Bhoys Bag Four As Naka Ponders Future

Motherwell 2 Celtic 4

By Tony Quin

Georgios Samaras scored twice as Celtic thrashed Motherwell on Saturday. The champions were 3-0 up inside the opening 25 minutes thanks to goals from Shaun Maloney, Samaras and former Motherwell striker Scott McDonald. Maloney then rattled the Motherwell crossbar with a 20-metre free kick in the 37th minute.

Samaras grabbed his second just before the break, running onto a back-heeled pass from McDonald and slipping a shot under Smith for 4-0. Motherwell staged a brief, second-half rally with two goals inside three minutes through John Sutton and David.

"I thought the football at times was exhilarating against a good Motherwell side," said Gordon Strachan aftert he game. "We've not done that to many teams for a long time, and I thought the players' focus was excellent. Samaras' performance was near enough 10 out of 10. He was great in the air, on the ball, scored goals, and in the fourth goal we saw a goal you dream of as a football manager."

Celtic are desperate to hold onto Shunsuke Nakamura to the end of this season. The Japan international has declared hopes of returning home in January, but Celtic management want him to see out the season. Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell will try to convince him to see out the current campaign but may be fighting a losing battle. "Celtic would be more than happy for Shunsuke to stay here for as long as he wants and certainly we want him to remain here until the end of the season," Lawwell said. "But his agent has intimated Shunsuke would like to return to Japan at some point."

In response to press speculation on Tuesday linking Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell with a move to Arsenal, Chairman John Reid issued the following statement indicating that Peter will be staying with the Club. Reid said: "Peter is a valuable and highly-valued part of Celtic Football Club and remains so. Peter will continue to work with everyone at Celtic to ensure the Club enjoys even more success and maintains its pre-eminent position within Scottish football." Lawwell had been linked with the same role at Arsenal. The Gunners are on the look-out for a new chief executive after Keith Edelman's resignation at the start of the summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Celtic star Aidan McGeady could be playing for Manchester United. "We brought him as a kid to Manchester and we thought we were certain to sign him," said Ferguson. "His heart ruled his head and he signed for Celtic, but he's a talented young footballer, that's for sure." He explained that Celtic had the advantage because they follow different rules in Scotland. "We had McGeady and his parents down to discuss him signing for Manchester United when he was 14 or 15," he said. "We thought we had him buttoned up, but in England we have to wait until they are 16, while Scottish clubs can tie them up when they're still at school."

Gordon Strachan is reportedly leading the chase for MK Dons' striker Sam Baldock - the first home-grown product at the club. Strachan's is said to be tracking the 19-year-old hitman who has scored three times this season, including the winner against Norwich City in the Carling Cup. Baldock made his debut at 16 but has become a first-team starter in Roberto Di Matteo's side this season. He is also the first local player to come through the ranks at Milton Keynes.

Former Aston Villa player Shaun Maloney is grateful to his old boss Martin O'Neill for not playing him in Europe so he can now represent Celtic in the Champions League. He explained: "I was left out of Villa's Intertoto Cup games at the start of the season, so I'm not cup-tied. I went to Denmark and the Faroe Islands with them but, to be fair to the manager, he pulled me aside before it and told me what was happening. He told me before those games that I wouldn't be involved. So, if anything, I should be quite appreciative for what the Villa manager did. To be fair, he was good on that point. He knew the transfer to Celtic was going to happen so I appreciate that he left me out."