The Japan international only underwent surgery on his hernia in Germany on Thursday.

He told the Evening Times: "I want to be on the bench for the opening match against St Mirren on 10th August.

"But my team-mates have all had the preparation to play in that game, and I have to do that, too.

"I will be working to be able to play throughout the season. I want to win four-in-a-row and go as far as possible in the Champions League."

Meanwhile Nakamura's fellow countryman Koki Mizuno is out for at least the next three months.

An operation on the Japanese winger's knee on Monday has discovered that his cartilage injury is worse than first feared.