St Mirren have opened talks to keep Kwon Hyeok-kyu on loan for a further season.
After moving to Celtic in the summer from Korean Second Division side Busan Ipark last summer the midfielder never made a single competitive appearance before going out on loan to the Paisley side in January.
Despite his lack of playing time Kwon has made an instant impact at St Mirren who look certain of a top six finish.
A return to challenge for a first team place looks unlikely with an extended loan likely to hold appeal to the player and Celtic.
Speaking to the Daily Record Saints boss Stephen Robinson said:
He’s someone we’d really like to keep. We’re speaking to Celtic about it, perhaps keeping him for another season with ourselves. We’d be very keen to do that, but he isn’t our player and that won’t be our decision. We knew he’d have an influence, it was about getting him game-time.
He came to the country and hasn’t played a lot. It’s getting him used to Scottish football, long throws and long balls at times that he maybe isn’t used to. The physicality of our game.
He’s added that bit of quality and composure. It’s something we’d be very keen to get done. It’s possibly a long way off happening, but that would be in an ideal world for me.
With Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley the first picks in the Celtic side Brendan Rodgers has Paulo Bernardo and Tomoki Iwata competing for the third place until Reo Hatate returns from injury. Odin Thiago Holm and Daniel Kelly are also options for midfield.
CLICK HERE for Kwon’s Transfermarkt profile.