Brendan Rodgers has said Yang Hyun-jun is making a ‘valuable contribution’ to Celtic and chose not to loan the winger out to get more game time.
Yang made a £2.1m move to Celtic from Gangwon FC in the summer of 2023 just after Brendan Rodgers had replaced Ange Postecoglou in the Parkhead dugout.
The South Korean failed to breakthrough in his first season at the club, but has began to prove his worth more recently for Celtic.
This comes after Rodgers issued a subtle reminder to Yang following Celtic’s drab draw with Dundee United before Christmas last year.
Yang has only made nine starts this season, but his contributions against Raith Rovers and Bayern Munich prove he is getting better.
The 22-year-old started the 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith and produced one goal and two assists across the match.
Yang then made a crucial impact off the bench to set up Daizen Maeda’s goal as Celtic lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Rodgers speaks in depth about Celtic winger Yang
Reporters at Rodgers’ pre-Dundee United press conference quizzed the Celtic boss on Yang and asked initially if he thinks the winger is learning from the likes of Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Jota.
Rodgers understands that Yang won’t play ahead of those three – but noted that he has done everything asked of him this season and is a player still in development.
The Celtic manager said: “I think that to improve as a player, if you’re playing and working and training with better players, then it will do (take Yang to another level).
“I think what Nicolas and Daizen have shown, what we want from wingers and what the possibilities are. If you get into the right positions, you can score goals. But he’s done great for us, Yang.
“He’s obviously a young player still developing and adapting to the culture and everything about the game here and the size of the club. But he’s made a valuable contribution for us this season.
“When he’s been asked to play, he’s done well. He knows and he wants to improve his numbers. And you can see in the last few games, he’s starting to affect games more.
“He’s a good guy who’s developed really well.”
Rodgers made decision over Yang at Celtic
Asked if Yang has a future at Celtic despite the competition ahead of him and the previous doubts over whether he could cut it at the club, Rodgers replied the 22-year-old has a role to play.
The Celtic boss also touched on having to weigh up whether Yang would benefit from a loan exit to get more game time, or keeping him with the hope he still improves with limited opportunities.
Rodgers said: “I think it’s just timing. Really, it’s what he needs. Obviously, because of the intensity at which we play, we need to have four or five wingers around for all the games that we play. So it’s having guys that can contribute.
“It’s having to gauge whether he needs to go out and play and get the games to come back a better player, or whether he will improve being still in here and then playing, maybe not so regular, but getting those opportunities. So that’s always the balance. But we can definitely see improvement.
“We can see the strength in his game. For him, it’s about efficiency. You know, as a Celtic winger, you’re going to get lots of opportunities to score, to create goals.
“That’s where you get judged. What he also does, he presses the game. He works very, very hard. I like that side to him.”
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