BEIJING, Aug 8 - China coach Jonas Kazlauskas bemoaned Yao Ming's absence from the national team after the U.S. thrashed China by 46 points in a world championship warm-up match in Guangzhou, a the China Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"Yao is definitely what we need right now. We had some really tough games in Europe and back home. Without Yao, the team lost its confidence and leadership," Kazlauskas was quoted as saying.

The 7ft-5in NBA All Star broke his left foot playing for the Houston Rockets in April, an injury that has clouded Team China's preparations for the world championships starting in Japan on August 19.

Yao was a late withdrawal for the Guangzhou clash -- a game in which China's lack of depth was badly exposed by a resurgent U.S. eager to atone for poor displays in recent international meetings.

Minus Yao, China has performed abysmally in the lead-up to the worlds, losing six of seven matches in a European warm-up tour last month. An injury to former NBA player Wang Zhizhi, another fellow 7-footer touted to spearhead China's Japan campaign alongside Yao, has placed further pressure on Kazlauskas.

"Right now, this is the hardest time for the national team... the constant injuries are pushing us to the limit," the Latvian coach said.

"I need six or seven more games to adjust the team but there are only three left in my schedule, so I hope Yao can join the team and make a difference," Kaslauskas said.

After a long layoff, Yao joined national team training last week. While expected to be fit for the worlds, he has few remaining chances to gain match fitness.

Yao has been named in the national team for the Stankovic Cup on August 11 in Jiangsu province. The six-nation tournament with Greece, France, Germany, Brazil and Australia would be Yao's last run-out before the worlds.