Nakamura is inspiration for Salzburg star

RED BULL SALZBURG’S Japanese playmaker Takumi Minamino grew up idolising Celtic hero Shunsuke Nakamura and he is desperate to emulate the ex-Hoops genius by becoming a star in Europe.

Celtic travel to Austria to face the runaway Austrian Bundesliga leaders on Thursday in the second round of Europa League games.

Brendan Rodgers’s side will be hoping to build on their last-gasp win against Rosenborg in the opening game.

But they are facing a side that reached the semi-final of the same competition last season and has already gone to Germany and defeated RB Leipzig.

Much of their success is based on the attacking trickery and vision of Japanese international Minamino (pictured), who has been a huge hit for Salzburg since his move from Cerezo Osaka three years ago.

And the 23-year-old has taken inspiration from Nakamura, who enjoyed four years in Scotland and is still playing at the age of 40 with homeland side Jubilo Iwata.

Minamino said: “He made a huge impact at Celtic and is one of the best players ever to come out of Japan.

“Everyone in Japan knows Celtic because of his spell at the club.

“It would be nice to be another Japanese player to make an impact when it comes to Celtic ... but for different reasons.”

But Minamino believes the Hoops will be no pushover. “The atmosphere at the stadium always looks impressive and we know this is going to be a big test for us.

“I don’t think I am being disrespectful when I say Scottish players are renowned for being very physical, so we need to be wary of that.”