26th September 2005

NAKAMURA HAPPY TO STAY WITH HOOPS

Shunsuke Nakamura has rejected claims he is using his time at Celtic as a springboard for a move to Spanish football.

The Japanese midfielder was quoted in weekend news reports as saying he wants to go and play in La Liga after the World Cup in Germany next summer.

He insists, though, that while he would welcome a switch there one day, he is focused solely on performing at Parkhead.

He said: "I had reports saying the same thing when I was playing in Italy with Reggina as well, and even in Japan, too.

"People there asked me what league I would like to play in, and I told them that I would like to go to Spain one day.

"Just now, though, I am happy here at Celtic and I am enjoying it. I am getting used to living and playing in Glasgow now and it is getting better here every day."

Despite making little impact during his time in Scotland so far, Nakamura's presence at Parkhead is noticeable.

As you approach the sign for the press door at the ground, there is now a second beside it relaying the same message in Japanese.

When you pass another outside the media room, several journalists from Nakamura's homeland sit reporting on how the star import is progressing.

Yet, despite being rated as the best player to come from his country since Hidetoshi Nakata, he insists he has never had as much media attention as he gets in Glasgow.

Nakamura added: "I was in a Japanese restaurant in the city recently and when I came out there was a photographer there wanting my picture for the newspapers. He was very close to me with his camera and that was very surprising. I am not used to that."

Gordon Strachan, meanwhile, has agreed with Craig Brewster that Caley Thistle should have had a penalty in the closing minutes at Parkhead.

Adam Virgo appeared to handle a high cross into the box but Brewster said in his post-match press conference that Strachan had denied it merited a spot kick. Strachan said: "I think Craig could be right about the penalty claim and where he got the impression I thought he might be wrong, I will never know.

"I never disagreed with him about it at the time and I think he was going about like Mr Angry, wanting to argue with everybody.

"We all agreed with him, though, and I think Caley Thistle had a case."

16th September 2005 

Ex Celtic boss Martin O'Neill for Newcastle??????????????????

Former Celtic supremo Martin O'Neill is being linked with a move to Newcastle United if they part company with under-pressure boss Graeme Souness.

The Toon are currently languishing near the foot of the Premiership table and rumours of a managerial change are gathering steam.

Some reports are claiming that Souness could have as little as two or three matches to produce an upturn in fortunes - or face the sack from chairman Freddy Shepherd.

O'Neill, who stepped down as Celtic manager at the end of last season to care for his sick wife, is being mooted as a potential replacement if there was a boss reshuffle on Tyneside.

09TH SEPTEMBER 2005

Nakamura may miss Saturday's game with Aberdeen

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is on a collision course with Japan over the use of midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

Celtic's star summer signing has returned from Tokyo tired and injured after helping his country beat Honduras 5-4 in a friendly.

Strachan said: "It's better if the Japanese coach and myself work out the best way to use him for both of us and get the best out of Naka.

"He has just arrived back and he's all over the place. Is that good for him?"

And Strachan, who also signed up Chinese defender Du Wei, admits the problems could make him think twice about recruiting players from Asia in the future.

He added: "Sometimes you try to sign players closer to Europe but the price of those boys might take you out of the market.

"But it might be worth it if a player from further away is going to miss games."