Nakamura wants to stay one of Bhoys

Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 4

Shunsuke Nakamura’s Celtic career is in doubt but he showed his commitment to the Hoops with a deadly double at Rugby Park.

The Parkhead careers of captain Neil Lennon and another of his goalscorers, John Hartson, are also uncertain. But having watched his side secure the double, Strachan has opened the door for a chat with any of his squad men.

“Anybody who wants to speak to me or have any worries about their future, whether they are young or old, there is plenty of time,” said the Celtic manager.

Nakamura played a more central midfield role and he earned special praise from his manager. Celtic could have been forgiven for having their feet off the ground after partying following their midweek win over Hearts.

But Strachan, who watched substitute Dion Dublin, score a fourth, beamed: “Naka was fantastic. I don’t know where his best position is. He scored a couple of goals and it was made easy because he doesn’t drink (alcohol) like the rest of the boys. He has a fantastic touch and vision but I’m not sure about his ball over the top for John Hartson to chase. I’ll have to have a word with him.”

Strachan will be looking at signing targets for next season but he dismissed reports linking him with Charlton defender Jon Fortune.

The Scot added: “He has not come up in conversations. I have seen him a few times because my teams have played against him. But there are 20 odd players on my list and no disrespect to Jon but he’s not one of them.”

Strachan admitted his side had ridden their luck at times.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies felt poor decisions and finishing cost his fourth-place-chasing side at least a point. Linesman Frank Cole incorrectly ruled out Steven Naismith’s equaliser for offside while the youngster missed two glorious opportunities to at least cause the champions some bother.

Colin Nish gave the Ayrshire side a late consolation and manager-of-the- year candidate Jefferies said: “The scoreline didn’t reflect the effort we put in.”

KILMARNOCK: Combe, Wilson, Hay, Wright, Ford, Fowler, Johnston, Naismith, Invincibile, Wales (Di Giacomo 70), Nish.

CELTIC: Marshall, Telfer, Wilson, Varga, McManus, Lennon (Lawson 85), Petrov (Pearson 66), Nakamura, McGeady, Hartson (Dublin 75), Maloney.

Referee: C Thomson.