Nakamura tips classy Maloney for the top
The 23-year-old striker scored his fifth goal in as many games in the 2-1 win over Inverness, which moved the club to within touching distance of the Bank of Scotland Premier League title.
But the former Reggina player admits the quality and age of Maloney and midfielder Aiden McGeady, who is recovering from injury, had “surprised” him after his move to Glasgow last year.
Nakamura said: “When I arrived here, I was so surprised by the quality of Maloney and McGeady.
“They always do really good things and are good players, but then I realised they were so young.
“They could go to bigger clubs. Shaun can certainly play anywhere.”
Celtic can now win the title by beating Livingston on Sunday and success and Hearts on Wednesday, April 5.
The champions-elect are currently 17 points clear of the troubled second-placed Tynecastle club.
But Nakamura, 27, insists the players are taking nothing for granted.
He added: “It will be a good thing to get the title as soon as possible. I just want to win those next two games.
“Our performances have been at quite a high level. We have been doing very well, but have not let our displays and training drop because of our league position. We are not up and down - we are quite steady and taking nothing for granted.”
Inverness remain a point behind sixth-placed Aberdeen with three games to go before the split.
The Highland side travel to Hibernian and Livingston, while also facing a home game against the Dons.
Inverness midfielder Richard Hart, who grabbed a late consolation at Celtic Park, hopes top scorer Craig Dargo will have shaken off his illness for tomorrow’s trip to Easter Road.
He said: “Craig has been a great goal threat for us over the last 13 or 14 games.
“If you take his goals out of the side, you are going to miss that.
“Hopefully, Craig will be back for Saturday because we need those goals in the team.”
Gordon Strachan was relieved to move three points closer to his second trophy as Celtic manager.
The CIS Insurance Cup winners are the only team to have beaten their opponents at home in the SPL this season.
Strachan said: “It was a good performance.
“We have done well against Caley and you can see why they are dangerous away from home because they are well organised, extremely fit and can hit you on the counter-attack.
“It made the crowd nervous, but we started the game well and their goalkeeper (Mark Brown) made three terrific saves.
“I was happy with the start but the game lulled a bit. We went a goal up and it wasn’t much of a game.
“Then we scored the second one and could have had a third after a scramble on the line.
“They scored at the end, which was just a human error from Artur Boruc, and we just have to get on with that.”
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