Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura believes team-mate Aiden McGeady has the quality to play at the very highest level.McGeady has recently emerged as the main creative force behind Celtic, scoring eight goals this season and setting up seven in his last six games.

Nakamura had an unhappy spell at Serie A side Reggina before joining Celtic in 2005 but the Japan midfielder is sure McGeady could adapt to any standard of football.

Nakamura said: "I think the way he dribbles the ball, I'm sure he can play anywhere in the world. But he is not just a dribbler, he can set up goals too."

Nakamura on Thursday confirmed his intention to play for Celtic as long as he is wanted before returning to Yokohama Marinos to finish his career in his homeland.

Nakamura may have to return to Asia in March to play for his country in their World Cup qualifier in Bahrain on March 26 - three days before an Old Firm derby.

But he is unsure whether Japan boss Takeshi Okada will call him up for the international.

Nakamura said: "You would have to ask the manager, I don't know anything about that."

Celtic play Hibernian on Saturday looking to keep up the pressure on Rangers at the top of the SPL.

The game sees a return to Easter Road for former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen is not surprised at how easily Brown has adapted following his £4.4million summer move to Celtic - after witnessing his talent when he was a youth in Edinburgh.

Paatelainen said: "Scott Brown was here when I was here and he is a fantastic player and very strong mentally.

"He broke through into the first team from the youths, so he was a youngster, but you could tell already that he was somebody who had a great chance of making it.

"He is a good, positive guy in the dressing room and I'm not surprised he is doing so well at Celtic.

"I'm not surprised at all that he has adapted well to the pressure because of his mental toughness.

"He is a level-headed person, he's determined to do well and he doesn't worry about playing against anybody.

"He'll get stuck in when the going gets tough and it will be interesting and difficult to play against Scott. I'm sure he will get a warm welcome."

Hibs have racked up four straight league victories to boost their European hopes but Paatelainen is acutely aware of the threat Celtic pose.

Trailing Rangers by four points in the title race, they can afford few slip-ups, and the Hibs boss added: "It's a big challenge, it will be a very difficult match.

"Celtic are a fantastic team, full of international-class players and they are doing well in the Champions League.

"They are difficult to play against because they use the width of the pitch really well and they've got several powerful players through the middle as well."

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