We all thought that it was a done deal and that Shunsuke Nakamura would be heading back home to Yokohama in the summer but the midfielder said on Celtic TV last week "It's a possibility to go back to Japan at the end of the season. But for now I only want to concentrate on winning the title - before I decide what I will do." 
the pride of the Celtic
He hasn't decided yet! To the watching Celtic fans it raised that glimmer of hope that the far east of Glasgow could still be his home for the next year or even two. And then just a few short days later, following Saturday's Nakamura inspired seven goal thrashing of St Mirren, the manager was asked about his star performer and, for this observer at least, that glimmer of hope has almost disappeared.
Now maybe I'm reading too much into his demeanour, and maybe I'm picking up on nuances that aren't there, but it seems to me that boss Strachan has started eulogising Naka, he's talking wistfully about Naka while the guy is still here, and it makes one think that the gaffer is resigned to losing him in the summer.
One thing for sure is that he will be crucial in determining the destination of this season's SPL flag. Aside from three goals on Saturday he gave the usual committed performance for the entire game and was as unassuming as always when accepting the man-of-the-match award. "I scored three goals and it was a good thing for the team" he said "But we have to consider the fact that we were playing against 10 men. Today we did okay."
"This week we did a lot of shooting practice because the manager wanted us to start scoring more goals." continued Celtic's number 25 "The free-kick was not a great angle so I pretended to cross the ball and then shot directly. I got a good trajectory and good pace on the ball. It was a good free kick. I have scored eight goals this season but my target is always to score 10 for the season so hopefully I can make that happen. But the team is most important and I am only concentrating on winning four in a row."
It was noticeable during the St Mirren game that Naka and many of his colleagues tried valiantly, but ultimately unsuccessfully, to set up chances for the under-pressure forwards and especially for striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink who missed a 30th minute penalty. But the man once described as "the soul of our midfield" by Japanese boss and Brazil legend Zico has no worries about his Dutch team-mate's lack of goals. "Jan will score goals soon so there is no problem," said Shunsuke. "The strikers fight for the ball and make good movement, which allows the midfielders to go forward and score goals, so it's thanks to them."