Celtic heroes get peers' approval

Celtic FC's Shunsuke Nakamura and Gordon Strachan have been named as the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association's Player and Manager of the Year.

Shared credit
The awards were announced hours after the 28-year-old Japanese midfielder had scored an added-time winner to clinch the Scottish Premier League title in Celtic's 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock FC. Nakamura's club-mates Artur Boruc and Lee Naylor were also nominated along with Aberdeen FC captain Russell Anderson.

Nakamura assessment
"I'm very pleased but this isn't something you can get on your own - it's down to the whole team and also the supporters," said Nakamura, who has scored nine league goals this season. "All the players deserved to get this award. For example, a player like Neil Lennon is not really in the limelight but he is so important in the background and without players like him we wouldn't have our style of play."

Inaugural award
Strachan, who has steered Celtic to his second consecutive title, picked up the inaugural Manager of the Year prize having also led the Glasgow club to the UEFA Champions League first knockout round for the first time and to next month's Scottish FA Cup final. Celtic were denied a clean sweep when Aiden McGeady was beaten to the Young Player of the Year award by Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith.