Naka playing through pain

Nakamura: Pushed to the limit

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Shunsuke Nakamura admits he needs to take a break after pushing his body to breaking point.

The Celtic star has revealed that he has been hampered by a lingering ankle problem picked up at the start of last season.

He sustained the knock during a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Spartak Moscow and has been carrying the problem ever since.

He also believes the niggling injury may be responsible for the knee problems he is currently battling.

With this in mind, and with virtually three years of non-stop top level football behind him, the Japan international concedes that now may be the time for him to take a step back.

He is unlikely to feature for the Hoops in their SPL showdown with Hamilton on Sunday, while he must also decide whether he feels fit enough to make the arduous journey to his homeland for a World Cup qualifier against Qatar on Wednesday.

Painful

"I've got a problem with my ankle. I have even been playing with the national team with pain, so maybe that's not a good thing," Nakamura said in the Evening Times.

"Maybe it also led to my knee injury. I don't like to have my leg strapped up when I play.

"I've been playing in quite a lot of games, so it's good to have some time off."

Nakamura also admitted that his desire to constantly prove himself to the Parkhead faithful is partially to blame for his recent injury woes.

"By doing that, it is not good for my ankle," he added.

"I need to learn to put my foot on the break pedal. That's something you need to think about."