Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is a doubt for Japan's Asian Cup campaign after suffering an ankle injury during the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.Nakamura played the entire match despite picking up the knock as the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions completed the double with a 1-0 victory over Dunfermline at Hampden.
The 28-year-old has been included in Ivica Osim`s squad for the upcoming Kirin Cup, a key warm-up for Japan before they begin the defence of their Asian Cup title in July.
Japan will play Montenegro on June 1 and Colombia on June 5 in the tournament that Scotland won a year ago.
"When I swing my leg it hurts. It`s quite painful," said Nakamura, who is included in a squad under the guidance of Osim for just the second time after featuring in the 2-0 victory over Peru in March.
And Nakamura - who completed a clean sweep of Scotland`s player of the year awards - hopes to overcome his injury to cement his place in the team.
"The last time I was only with the squad a little while but this time is longer," he said.
"I am hoping to learn more about this Japan team`s football."
The reigning Asian champions open their Group B campaign against Qatar in Hanoi on July 9 before facing the UAE and Vietnam.
The tournament ends on July 29 - just five days before Celtic begin their defence of the SPL title.
Hoops boss Gordon Strachan may also lose new signing Scott McDonald to the Asian Cup over pre-season with the former Motherwell striker on the fringes of the Australia squad.
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