Shunsuke Nakamura has flown to Germany for an operation to remedy the nagging groin pain he has had over the last few months, but Hoops supremo,Gordon Strachan is hopeful that he won't be side lined for too long.

Strachan told the club's website: "He'll go to Germany to see the same guy who operated on Darren O'Dea."

"Darren was only out for a couple of weeks so it could be the same for Shunsuke, although some players take longer than others."

"I know people hear the word operation and think 'oh no' but it's not like that," said the Celtic manager. "It's not a big problem.

"There has been wear and tear but that's just Naka's body giving him a wee nudge saying it's time for a wee rest."

Player Update
Strachan said
"Koki Mizuno will get a meniscus operation, which is in his cartilage, on Monday. That will be him out for a couple of weeks.

"Evander Sno and Chris Killen are at the Olympics, Cillian Sheridan and Ben Hutchinson have hamstring injuries, while Paddy McCourt only trained one day."

So despite the lack of transfers the Celts should have a full squad available for the start of the season.

Meanwhile despite being told he would not get a game for Celtic Thomas Gravesen continues to refuse a move out ,prefering instead to see out the remainder of his contract on his rather large wage packet