Naka & Koki injured

[ellboy]

Naka & Koki injured

News emerged today of both Koki Mizuno & Shunsuke Nakamura being sidelined with injury. Nakamura will undergo surgery to repair a damaged hernia, although it seems there is no real concern as to the length of time he will be out for. Nakamura will undergo surgery next Tuesday at the very same German clinic where Darren O’Dea underwent a similar procedure last term. After which the defender was back in action within a few weeks.

Nakamura, who missed a fair amount of last season with a number of niggling injuries, revealed today that he has been struggling with a groin problem plus ankle and calf pain since the end of last season. However with the aid of pain medication he was able to play for Japan in their summer World Cup qualifiers.

Despite a holiday in Japan with his family he has only had three weeks of rest. It became clear that Nakamura needed surgery when he rejoined for pre-season. Nakamura explained...

"I've had pain from my groin, an ankle and a calf since the end of last season."

"But the calf and ankle have been getting better in recent weeks."

"While I was playing for Japan, I took pain relieving medicine. But it got worse."

It is expected that he will miss Celtic’s curtain raiser at home to St Mirren. However he is expected to be fit and ready well before the first Old firm game on August 31st, along with the Champions League group stages when the tournament kicks off two weeks later.

Meanwhile Nakamura´s team mate & international colleague Koki Mizuno will also go under the knife to repair a troublesome cartilage injury. Mizuno who came on at Southampton revealed the injury has been hampering him for a while now. He explained...

"I've been in pain since injuring my knee playing for the reserves against Gretna back in March. It's got so bad I can't play any longer."

Both players are currently with the Celtic squad on tour in the Algarve. However they are only doing light training & will take no part in the games with Cardiff City tomorrow or Porto on Saturday.