Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will be satisfied with the options he has at his disposal as the season run-in hits full swing.
The Bhoys saw Reo Hatate and Liam Scales return to the starting line-up against Livingston last weekend; meanwhile, Callum McGregor isn’t too far away from re-entering the fold.
Hyunjun Yang also got on to the pitch against the Lions, marking the end of a two-match suspension that saw him miss out against Livingston and St Johnstone before the international break.
Of course, his contentious red card away to Heart of Midlothian sparked weeks of controversy off the field; nevertheless, the 21-year-old will be happy to focus on simply playing football.
Yang has shown glimpses of brilliance during his first full Celtic campaign, registering one goal and three assists in 28 appearances across all competitions [Transfermarkt].
Nicolas Kuhn has excelled in his absence, alongside James Forrest’s impressive cameo displays. This makes for an intriguing selection call from Rodgers regarding who will get the nod on the right flank against Rangers at Ibrox.
Nevertheless, South Korea Under-23 boss Hwang Seon-hong, who also doubles as the senior side’s interim manager, may have other ideas concerning Yang’s availability over the coming weeks.
South Korea Under-23 boss speaks out on Celtic’s Hyunjun Yang
Cited via The Daily Record, South Korea Under-23 manager Hwang holds out hope that Celtic will allow Yang to participate in the Under-23 Asian Cup, kicking off later this month in Qatar.
The 21-year-old has been named in their squad for the tournament, which also provides a route to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where the Taeguek Warriors have fielded a team for ten consecutive contest editions.
Celtic don’t need to release Yang as the competition doesn’t fall within the FIFA international window, though Hwang is still hopeful some of his key stars will jet out to the Middle East.
If he were to travel, the former Gangwon FC man would miss our upcoming semi-final against Aberdeen and several post-split fixtures.
He stated in a recent interview: “There are many variables about the overseas players, but we will prepare with hope. We will also think about other options a little bit. I think I have to do it. We have selected the best players. The overseas players would join up three days before the first game so they could play at the weekend for their clubs.
“I have been told Bae Jun-ho is waiting for an answer from Stoke City. The other overseas players, I have heard nothing saying they won’t be in Qatar.
“I’m trying to make a decision quickly, but it’s difficult to give a definite answer right now. It would be an incredible achievement to qualify for a tenth time in a row and I need my best players to do that.”
Celtic may have a decision to make on Hyunjun Yang
The crux of the matter is that Celtic have the ball entirely in their court regarding Yang, who they won’t want to lose for some important matches during a congested fixture schedule.
One would suspect the club would make that clear to whom it may concern, though involvement at international level can also grant valuable experience to prodigious talent.
Nevertheless, we will have to wait and see if Celtic do permit Yang to leave or if they opt to keep him at Lennoxtown.
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