Strachan in awe of Japanese work ethic

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura runs with the ball during a Scottish league match against Hibernian in September 2005. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has all but admitted he would have his side packed with Japanese players in the mould of Nakamura.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has all but admitted he would have his side packed with Japanese players in the mould of magic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

Celtic's hopes of relaunching the league title they lost on the last day of the season last year, when a shock defeat to Motherwell handed Rangers the trophy, is back on after a 4-2 win against Dundee United on Sunday.

After Hearts' first defeat of the season, to Hibernian on Saturday, and Rangers' second league draw inside four days Celtic now lead the Tynecastle side on goal difference.

It is a good turn in fortune since Strachan, who replaced Martin O'Neill at the start of the new season, was forced to review his ambitions for Celtic after their shock exit from the Champions League at the hands of Artmedia Bratislava.

When Strachan coached at Coventry and Southampton in England, it was all about survival. Now, it is all about winning trophies, albeit on the domestic front this season.

And it is to the likes of Nakamura that the diminutive former Aberdeen and Scotland great is looking when he talks of giving the fans something back with a style of football which helped destroy Motherwell 5-0 last week, a result which included a Stilian Petrov hat-trick and a goal for Nakamura.

"We needed players who could see a pass that others don't," Strachan said ahead of the game at Dundee United.

"Nakamura can do that and I think he'll get better and better.

"Before I signed him I took advice and I was told something that I've now seen for myself.

"It is that Japanese players who go abroad have a terrific work ethic because they see themselves as ambassadors for their country."

Nakamura has fitted in well with a current squad of players which includes a mixture of experience and youth.

But more than anything, the Japan midfielder, who was bought for 2.75 million pounds, appears to possess a gift which the Celtic faithful hold so dear - individual talent.

Nakamura may have to improve if he is to ever be mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary Jimmy Johnstone, whose skills on the wing destroyed and embarrassed opposition defences as Celtic won the European Cup back in 1967.

But after only two months Nakamura has largely confirmed his ability to the club's fans, who have a penchant for warmly adopting those who can put their skills on show.

Celtic may still be looking for the striker who can fill the boots of Henrik Larsson, the Swedish international who left the club two years ago and now spends much of his time on the bench at Barcelona.

But in midfield, they may have found a replacement for another cherished former player - Slovakian Lubomir Moravcik.

"(Nakamura) is a very clever player," said Celtic striker John Hartson at the start of the season.

"He finds holes to play in when the other midfielders get the ball and he gives them plenty of options. He showed some great touches and I agree with (midfielder) Alan Thompson who said he is maybe what we have been looking for here since Lubo Moravcik left, someone with a bit of magic."