Yang Hyun-jun's Impact on Celtic's Title Race

Yang Hyun-jun was almost gone before his Celtic story truly began. In January, Birmingham City hovered, a deal looked close, and the winger’s future in Glasgow felt uncertain at best.

He stayed. Martin O'Neill walked back through the door for a second spell. And from that point, Yang stopped being a footnote and turned himself into a pillar of a title-winning side.

By the time Celtic had their league and cup double wrapped up, the 24-year-old had written his name into the season. Big goals. Big moments. The kind of contributions that turn a “promising” signing into a “must-keep” player.

So when he agreed new terms in the summer, nobody blinked. It felt inevitable. He had finished last season in full stride and has simply kept running.

On Saturday night in Paisley, he did it again. St Mirren pushed, Celtic probed, and Yang settled it. His winner in the 2-1 victory was his second goal of the campaign, coming hot on the heels of his first in midweek against Aberdeen. A winger who almost walked out the door in January is now deciding tight Premiership matches in September.

Inside the Celtic camp, there is no debate about his value.

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

Miss him they will. Yang is heading to the Asian Games and will sit out Celtic’s next four matches. On current evidence, that absence bites.

His numbers back up the eye test. Two goals and an assist in seven games this season underline a player not just hugging the touchline but actively tilting games. Last term, he hit 10 goals and added three assists, and those figures are beginning to look like a foundation rather than a peak.

O'Neill’s Celtic rely on width. The structure demands wingers who stretch the pitch, drag full-backs into uncomfortable spaces, and still have the quality to finish or create. In that framework, Yang has grown into the obvious pick on the left. If he were not on international duty, his name would be inked onto the teamsheet.

Instead, he heads for Japan, where South Korea will face Qatar and Saudi Arabia later this month. Different shirt, different stage, same expectation: make a difference.

Back home, Celtic have no time to pause. They go to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. Then comes a League Cup quarter-final trip to Rangers, a Europa League home tie with Ferencvaros, and another Old Firm clash in the league at Celtic Park.