Yang Hyun-jun's Impact on Celtic's Season

Yang Hyun-jun was almost out the door in January. Now Celtic can hardly do without him.

Back then, Birmingham City looked ready to take the South Korean winger to England. Instead, the deal never materialised, Martin O'Neill returned for a second spell in charge, and Yang stayed put. Celtic’s season turned, and so did his.

He didn’t just hang around. He delivered.

Yang chipped in with crucial goals as Celtic drove towards a league and cup double, forcing his way from squad option to near-essential. By the time summer came, there was no real debate. The 24-year-old signed new terms and walked into this campaign with the same sharp edge that finished the last one.

Now he’s gone again – but this time by design.

Yang will miss Celtic’s next four matches while he joins South Korea at the Asian Games in Japan, where they face Qatar and Saudi Arabia later this month. On current form, his absence cuts deep.

The evidence was there on Saturday evening in Paisley. With the game tight at St Mirren, Yang produced the winner in a 2-1 victory, his second goal of the season after opening his account in midweek against Aberdeen. Two games, two strikes, both telling.

His captain knows exactly what Celtic are losing.

“He is a really important part of the team,” Callum McGregor told Sky Sports after the win. “He's a big player to miss, but obviously we wish him the best.”

The numbers back up the armband’s verdict. This season, Yang has two goals and an assist in seven games, a return that underlines his growing influence on the ball and his confidence in decisive areas. Last term he hit 10 goals and added three assists, a strong haul for a wide player still settling into Scottish football.

This version of Celtic leans heavily on width. The wingers stretch the pitch, drag defenders into awkward positions, and create the lanes that allow midfield runners and full-backs to surge through. In that system, Yang’s direct running, timing and end product make him more than just another option.

If not for his international duty, he would likely be the automatic pick on the left.

Instead, O'Neill must reshape his attack for a defining spell. Celtic head to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, then cross the city for a League Cup quarter-final against Rangers. After that comes a Europa League home tie with Ferencvaros, followed by an Old Firm derby back at Celtic Park in the league.

Four games, high stakes in three competitions, and no Yang Hyun-jun.

For a player who almost slipped away in January, his absence now asks a blunt question of Celtic’s depth and creativity out wide.