Japan’s Shunsuke Nakamura was taking the all-for-one line to extremes in the land of Uncle Ho when he was spotted collecting up the team’s balls after training at the Asian Cup and lugging them off to the bus in a huge bag.

The Celtic midfielder has been the driving force behind Japan’s run to the semi-finals in Hanoi but, despite his flair, he has shown a team ethic that Vietnam’s “father” Ho Chi Minh would have been proud of.

“I was first off after training so I got stuck with the job of ball-boy,” Nakamura told Reuters with a sheepish grin. “I’m not bothered. I’m more worried about all the mosquitoes.”

Nakamura also let Reuters in on his secret for recovering between Asian Cup games in Hanoi’s brutal heat and humidity — germanium baths.

“We’ve got all sorts of minerals. It’s nice to climb into a bath with an interesting colour than just plain old water,” he said. “My skin’s nice and smooth anyway!”

Nakamura used to have reputation as something of a “luxury player” and was famously discarded by then Japan coach Philippe Troussier before the 2002 World Cup.

But Nakamura has matured beyond recognition at Celtic and was last season’s double Scottish player of the year.

His love affair with the country is apparent, even in faraway Vietnam.

“We have our own Japanese chef but we also get Vietnamese noodles,” he said, before adding quickly, “Just don’t ask if it tastes better than Scottish food. I can’t say anything bad about Scotland!”

Alastair Himmer is in Vietnam covering the Asian Cup