The Japan midfielder has been called up for international duty against Uzbekistan and a warm-up match against the United Arab Emirates next month, which leaves him facing seven matches in 25 days.

Nakamuru has become a cult hero at Parkhead since joining in 2005 but has cited the long-distance travelling as one reason why he could be looking to return to his homeland in January.

While Strachan has refused to concede the 30-year-old is set to leave Glasgow, he offered a tribute befitting a player whose time at Celtic Park is coming to an end.

"I don't think I will forget about Shunsuke when he goes away for a week or two," he said.

"If I'm lucky to be here in 25 or 30 years' time I will still be thinking about Shunsuke Nakamura.

"It's not a love affair, it's just that I still remember playing with great players like Bryan Robson, Gary McAllister, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish.

"He is terrific. He has got a strong mind and nothing upsets him.

"He will go down as the most-kicked player in the SPL by a million miles and nothing fazes him."

Of the exhausting long-distance trips Nakamura continues to undertake, Strachan said: "He is used to that journey now. Scott McDonald told me that the more times you do it, you more you get used to it.

"When you miss it for seven or eight months and then do the journey, it seems to be a problem."

Celtic warm up for their trip to Villarreal in the Champions League next week with an SPL game against Aberdeen at Parkhead, four days after the Dons were hammered 4-2 by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Strachan played down the problems Jimmy Calderwood is having at Pittodrie this season but admitted he was immensely satisfied with his own side's domestic form.

He said: "Our priority is the Aberdeen game. They made it hard for us last year, we beat them 1-0 at the end of the season and we got beat by them in the cup.

"I know how hard it can be against them here but this has been a good spell for us.

"At times as a manager you think, 'Yes, we are winning and that's satisfying' but to see the way we are playing is immensely satisfying.

"I think everybody is enjoying it at the moment."

Strachan confirmed Celtic will sign American goalkeeper Dominic Cervi.

Cervi, a 22-year-old University of Tulsa graduate, rejected the chance to sign a contract with Major League Soccer after being selected by Chicago Fire.

He had a trial with Portsmouth without being offered a deal but Strachan was sufficiently impressed to take him on board.

The Celtic boss said: Dominic is here, he is training and he will sign for us, so we are pleased with that.

"As Jim Blyth (goalkeeping coach) says, he is probably a two-year project, so don't expect anything. If it is quicker than that then great."

Celtic had targeted Cervi, capped at under-23 level, after their pre-season tour to the USA.

The keeper, who spent time with Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Michigan Bucks, played for his country at the Toulon Under-21 Tournament and was part of their squad for the Olympics in Beijing.

His parents are Italian and he is applying for a passport which would allow him to play in Europe without requiring a work permit.