The Japan international picked up further annual awards from his Parkhead team-mates and the Celtic fans last week, then capped it all yesterday when he was handed the Bank of Scotland Player of the Season prize.

Nakamura will have played in every Bank of Scotland Premier League game this season if he starts against Hibernian at Easter Road tomorrow.

The former Reggina player has been shadowed by an interpreter all season but Strachan said: “He understands everything you say, he just finds it hard to hold a conversation, which anyone who tries to learn a foreign language understands.

“It might be difficult for him in social terms but with regards football terminology, it’s been so easy it’s not true.

“You only need to tell him once to do something and that’s imperative as a coach.

“He picks instructions up right away and he has a photographic memory in terms of football.

“No matter what position you try to tell him to play, he picks it up no problem. You need intelligence to do that.

“So he deserves everything he has got this season and it shows that you can be skilful but also work as hard as everyone else.

“He’s played every league game this year and people talk about having rests and breaks but you don’t if you look after yourself and train properly.”

Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley also offered a tribute to his mercurial team-mate and is glad the Japan international looks set to stay in Glasgow for at least one more year.

Hartley said: “He’s a special individual who wins matches on his own.

“But although people talk about his free-kicks and his passing, he’s a real team player.

“You see from Nakamura’s statistics the amount of running he does and his work rate.

“All good players get linked with clubs but I think Naka has stated that he wants to stay here and that’s good for us.

“He’s very quiet and he doesn’t speak much English. He just goes about his business and he loves football.”