Kilmarnock assistant manager Billy Brown has denied the club are overly physical, responding to Celtic claims that his players roughed up the Celts` Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura in their recent League Cup quarter-final clash at Rugby Park.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan praised Shunsuke Nakamura`s bravery after the Japan midfielder answered the Kilmarnock bullies by helping his side into the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is adamant that midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is not on the brink of a return home to Japan.

Reports from Japan have suggested that Yokohama Marinos, for whom Nakamura made his professional debut in 1997, are keen to bring the 30-year-old playmaker back in January ahead of the start of the 2009 J-League season.

Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura has vowed to end Japan`s winless streak against Qatar when they clash in a World Cup qualifier in Doha next month, sports dailies reported Friday.

GLASGOW, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura insists he has no intention of quitting club or country despite reports he is tired of jetting back to Japan for international duty.

It had been suggested that Nakamura would consider a January move to a Japanese club because travelling to and from Scotland is taking its toll on the 30-year-old.

TOKYO, Sept 16, 2008 (AFP) - Japan and Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura says he wants to return to his his old J-League home, Yokohama Marinos, and possibly as early as January, Japanese media reported Tuesday.

GLASGOW, August 26, 2008 (AFP) - Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura wants Celtic to land unfamiliar opponents in Thursday's Champions League group stage draw.

Nakamura is fed up of playing against the same old faces after Gordon Strachan's side faced AC Milan, Barcelona and Benfica yet again last season.

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is back in the Celtic squad for Sunday`s Scottish Premier League ...

TOKYO, June 29, 2008 (AFP) - Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura has warned against the European-style physical football of Australia and Uzbekistan in upcoming final Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, according to reports.

GLASGOW, June 28, 2008 (AFP) - Scottish champions Celtic on Saturday ruled out a move by their Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura to Serie A newcomers Bologna.

The Scottish press had reported that the Italian club had made a swoop for the 30-year-old player.

GLASGOW, June 28, 2008 (AFP) - Italian first division newcomers Bologna have made a bold swoop for Celtic's Japanese star Shunsuke Nakamura, the Scottish Daily Record said on Saturday.

'We want to build a great team at Bologna and the first new face I want on board is Nakamura,' club president Alfredo Cazzola is quoted as saying.

TOKYO, May 25, 2008 (AFP) - Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura has vowed to help Japan win all their four remaining World Cup qualifiers after admitting 'a sense of crisis' -- and help ease the pressure on coach Takeshi Okada.

TOKYO, May 23, 2008 (AFP) - Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura will stay on with Scottish Premier League champions Celtic, despite claims that he would return to his old J-League side next season, a press report said Friday.

GLASGOW, April 25, 2008 (AFP) - Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura insisted on Friday he will be fit to face Scottish Premier League rivals Rangers this weekend.

The Japan international had to hobble out of training earlier this week with an ankle problem.

GLASGOW, April 18, 2008 (AFP) - Celtic's Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura believes his first Old Firm goal could also go down as one of his best.

Nakamura was on target in the midweek 2-1 victory over Rangers as Celtic kept alive their lingering hopes of hanging onto their Scottish Premier League title.

GLASGOW, March 31, 2008 (AFP) - Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura believes the Parkhead club can still retain their Scottish Premier League title if they beat arch-rivals Rangers in this season's two remaining Old Firm clashes.

GLASGOW, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) - Shunsuke Nakamura has admitted that Barry Robson's arrival at Celtic could mean he has to spend more time on the bench.

TOKYO, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) - Torakichi 'Pete' Nakamura, who fuelled a post-World War II golf boom in Japan by overcoming poverty and a diminutive frame to win the 1957 World Cup, has died at the age of 92.

He succumbed to natural causes on Monday at a hospital near his home in Zama, south of Tokyo, the Professional Golfers' Association of Japan said on its website.

ROME, Jan 12, 2008 (AFP) - Japan star Shunsuke Nakamura has blasted Italian football for its racism in an interview published on the official UEFA website.

Nakamura played for Reggina for three seasons before joining Celtic in 2005, where he has established himself as one of the stars of the team.

TOKYO, Jan 11, 2008 (AFP) - Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno, set to sign for Scottish champions Celtic, will be helped to settle in by compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura, the 2007 Scottish player of the year.

GLASGOW, Jan 4, 2008 (AFP) - Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura hopes to make his long-awaited return for Scottish champions Celtic against Stirling Albion next week.

Nakamura, 29, has been sidelined since late October with a knee ligament problem but has targeted the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie on January 12.

TOKYO, Dec 29, 2007 (AFP) - The Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara are being hunted back home by J-League clubs, sports dailies reported Saturday.

GLASGOW, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - Celtic's Japanese playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura is facing a race against time to be fit for next week's Champions League clash against AC Milan at Parkhead.

The 29-year-old Celtic star is a doubt for the visit by the European champions after aggravating a strain in his left knee in last week's defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

He is definitely out of the CIS Cup tie against Dundee on Wednesday and is almost certain to miss Saturday's SPL game with Dundee United.

TOKYO, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - Japan's Yokohama Marinos will attempt to re-sign Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura, a report said Tuesday, although they will face a fight from the Scottish champions.

Nakamura, the Scottish Player of the Year, was a young star at the J-League club, which the Sports Hochi newspaper said wanted him back when his contract with Celtic expires in June.

HANOI, July 23, 2007 (AFP) - When the going gets tough, the tough Shunsuke Nakamura gets going by diving into a bathtub to relieve his weary limbs at the Asian Cup here.

In his room at the plush Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, the Celtic and Japan playmaker soaks once or twice a day in a bath mixed with a variety of powders including the essence of hot spring water from the foot of Mount Fuji.