Nakamura: Keep your eye on the ball Celts

Talismanic Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura insists that the best way Celtic can retain their league crown this season is to focus all attentions on the job at hand and not to watch what is happening across the City.

Celtic face their first real challenge for the top spot under manager Gordon Strachan this season and Naka feels that the blinkered approach that has worked well for the last two seasons should hopefully see Celtic over the finishing line in pole position.

"Like in the first two years, we just have to concentrate on what we are doing and nothing else," Nakamura said yesterday. "Rather than look at how many points Rangers have got, we just have to take care of our own games.

"If we do that, I am confident we can do well. There are still so many games to play and a lot can happen. It would be unbelievable to win another league for Celtic and that is what we are all aiming for."

With a tough tie away to Falkirk on Sunday and the continued suspension of Aiden McGeady Celtic will have a tough time this weekend. Nakamura feels that the contribution of the young Celt will be sorely missed after his consistently brilliant performances this season and also hopes to emulate the form shown by the Irish International. "Aiden has been really good and is having great performances just now," Nakamura told the Celtic View."Hopefully, I can do the same things on my side of the pitch that may make things easier for him."

Naka has also revealed that the plaudits for Aiden’s wonder season should not be solely attributed to new fitness guru Gregory Dupont. He revealed that a subtle change in style has afforded Aiden the time and space to weave his magic, "The build-up seems a little bit faster at times now, and that means Aiden gets the ball quicker and has more space to work in. That seems to be working," he said. "Now I’m back from injury, it would be good if I could do the same on the right hand side and help the team in the same way as Aiden’s been doing."

One would hope that we now have a player back that has not only recovered from his injury but has also had a little time to relax and recuperate after a frenetic two and a half years at the club. Since Nakamura signed in 2005 he has had no time off in the summer due to the World Cup in 2006 and the Kirin Cup last summer and Naka was thankful of the rest as he recovered from injury.

"I thought, this is my time to get over the injury and have a break from competitive football," Nakamura said.

"Now I feel refreshed and ready to go for the rest of the season."

That is good news, Nakamura has in my opinion suffered as a result of a lack of time off and now that he has returned I feel we will see the best of the player in the run-in. His sage advice regarding keeping focused should apply to all involved with the club, the support included. We must believe we can win this league in order to do so by getting behind the team when it matters and also remember that although we are 4 points adrift there are still 12 points to be claimed in games against them.

Yours in Celtic

Clydebuilt