Celtic Winger Set To Miss Both Old Firm Derbies: Setback For The Hoops?

Celtic winger Hyun-jun Yang is set to miss both Old Firm derbies in September due to international commitments, marking a significant setback for the team. The South Korean forward, who has been a crucial attacking force for Celtic over the past three seasons, will join his national squad for the Asian Games on the 6th of September.

This absence will impact Celtic's preparations for their opening Champions League or Europa League group stage fixture as well as a rescheduled Scottish Premiership match against St Johnstone. Yang's contributions this season have been remarkable, scoring eight Premiership goals and providing two assists in 31 matches, with an additional goal in seven Europa League appearances.

His reliable performance in crucial moments, such as opening the scoring against Rangers in January and scoring again in the 3-1 win in May, has been invaluable to the team. Replacing his specific qualities won't be easy, as Yang is a starter until 2030 and plays a key role in Martin O'Neill's system. Celtic's options for a long-term solution include the £4 million pursuit of Hajduk Split's Niko Sigur, who can operate across the right flank and midfield, offering tactical flexibility to Martin O'Neill.