GORDON STRACHAN today asked for everyone to keep a sense of perspective about Marc Crosas.

The Bhoy from Barcelona will be given time to find his feet before he is thrust into the critical spotlight of the first team.

Strachan only met the 20-year-old midfielder for the first time a few hours before he was introduced to the Parkhead crowd, ahead of the opening Spl game against St Mirren on Sunday.

And, while Crosas has arrived with a big reputation, the manager plans to let him find his feet to ensure the culture shock of moving from Spain to Scotland does not overwhelm him.

The man who cost £415,000 and who has put his name to a four-year contract is said to have the potential to become a star in Strachan's side.

But this fee is merely the Vat on many transfer deals in the Premiership these days.

And, aware that when any player comes from the Nou Camp expectation levels rocket, the boss wants a reality check applied to this transfer.

He said of the cash on its way to the Catalan club: "The agents get more than that in some deals. What we have to watch is that the poor lad does not get too much placed on him. He is a kid.

"Coming from Spain to Scotland is heck of a cultural jump when you are that age. A heck of a jump.

"When a player comes here, especially from abroad, they are well looked after by the club. And there's a good bunch of lads here to make him feel at home. But it's still a big change for him, and hopefully he is strong enough to handle it.

"If Marc is half the player they think he is going to be, then we will be pleased."

Strachan's been frustrated by the way inflated transfer fees and high salaries in England and other countries have made the task of enticing players to Parkhead even more difficult.

Many deals the club have worked hard to pull off this summer have been usurped. Which makes it all the sweeter when Celtic do manage to conclude a transfer, even if it is as complicated as the Crosas deal appears to be.

On top of the initial fee, Celtic will pay Barca £750,000 if certain targets are hit.

Barcelona retain the right to buy back the player for £1.7m in two years' time. If they don't exercise this and Celtic sell him to another club, Barca will receive 25% of the transfer fee.

But if Barca do take Crosas back to the Nou Camp and subsequently sell him, Celtic will receive 25% of any fee.

This might eventually amount to large sum. But, Strachan wants a reality check on what exactly has been laid out to date.

He considers the price tag to be a reflection of the fact this is something of a gamble and said: "We've signed people like Barry Robson for £1.1m, Massimo Donati for £1.2m, Paul Hartley for £1.1.m.

"They all play in the same area, and have all done reasonably well. But no one has blown anyone out of the water. No one has become Celtic Player of the Year.

"So you take a gamble. Can Crosas be like Scott McDonald at £650,000, that kind of gamble? Let's take a look."

When the fans will get the chance to take a look at Crosas is open to conjecture.

This weekend might be too soon for the lad who has only seen the side play for 90 minutes.

But, after the disappointing display by his team in Sunday's opener, Strachan is already contemplating changes to his line up for Sunday's game at Tannadice.

Shunsuke Nakamura is now back in full training following his summer hernia operation, and he will come into contention if he shows no reaction to this week's work.

Strachan acknowledges how integral the Japanese star is to the smooth running of his Green Machine, and how difficult it is to replace him.

The manager said: "Naka brings a composure and vision to the side, which not many people in Britain - never mind at this club - have got.

"Crosas has come in to try and give us a bit of that vision.

"And we will try to sign other players with that quality because, without it, you become a bit ordinary.

"Every good team has got vision and the ability to pass."

That last quality is one which Strachan considers to be a tenet of any successful side, and he will not brook any excuse for failing to deliver on it.

He said: "You hear players saying that was unlucky. No it wasn't, it was a lack of concentration at the final step, or a lack of ability at that final step.

"So, we have to have people in our team who can pass the ball 10 or 15 yards.

"We need to work on that, and we will.

"We got three points from our opening game, but trust me, I do ask for more from my players and my team.

"I could not go home on Sunday and relax after that performance."