Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has plenty of exciting options to pick from on a weekly basis after making shrewd additions in the transfer market this summer.
However, one man who had stood on the periphery at the club this term is Hyunjun Yang. The South Korean winger has featured just three times off the bench in brief cameos against Kilmarnock and twice against Hibernian on league and cup duty.
Brought in from Gangwon FC in 2023 for £2.1 million, the 22-year-old has made 34 appearances in all competitions for Celtic. One goal and three assists have fallen his way, but you get the impression there is more to come from the youngster if he can improve his end product.
The Bhoys are returning from the international break and will hope to kick off the resumption of club football with a victory over Heart of Midlothian.
Despite his lack of minutes this term, there is an argument to be had that Yang may be involved against Steven Naismith’s side and beyond as the fixture schedule begins to intensify.
The scope for Hyunjun Yang to feature for Celtic
During the internationals, Celtic fans were interested to hear that Greg Taylor and James Forrest had both pulled out of the Scotland squad ahead of their Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal.
Coupling that with Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma’s involvement for Japan and Honduras, respectively, there may be a scenario where the trio’s minutes are managed this weekend due to the Bhoys’ inaugural Champions League tie against Slovan Bratislava lingering in the background, leaving game time available.
Yang could well have a chance to feature, and the same will be true over the next few months as Celtic fight for success on several fronts.
Whether the majority of his football comes from minutes in post-European games or is sprinkled in where midweek matches bulk out the volume of action the Bhoys are set to undertake, the South Korea international’s future in Glasgow will become much clearer in the coming months.
Does Rodgers view him as a genuine asset within the first-team squad, or is it more likely that a loan move could be in the pipeline come January to get him playing regularly?
It feels like Celtic’s next run of fixtures could be telling for Yang. The club didn’t bring in any wide players during the summer, so he is unlikely ever to get a better chance to cement himself. Time will tell on that front.
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