Celtic hit with new winger blow as Yang provides update

Yang Hyun-jun is the latest injury worry for Celtic.

The winger is on duty at the Asian Games but has yet to turn out for South Korea.

Yang’s last appearance was on September 5 when he scored and was injured in the 2-1 victory away to St Mirren.

The Asian Games was a serious inconvenience to Celtic, starting ahead of the worldwide international break.

For Yang it offered a very obvious prize. Success for South Korea would have excused him from national service at a crucial time in his career.

Yang has yet to appear at the Asian Games, explaining his absence The Sun reports the winger saying:

I have a minor injury to my hamstring. Right now, I am preparing with the goal of reaching the semi-finals and the finals.

I was selected as a wild card, but since I haven’t been in good physical condition recently and now I’m on top of that with an injury, I feel really sorry for my teammates. I also feel like I’m not being of any help.

So I tried to be of even a little more help from the bench. I also check on their daily lives to see if they are experiencing any inconveniences, and I try to do whatever they need. The goal is a quick recovery.

South Korea face China on Wednesday for a place in the final which will be played on October 3, more than a week ahead of Celtic’s match at Motherwell.

Celtic’s medical team will be in regular contact with the South Korean FA.

YANG THE CELTIC MATCHWINNER

Against St Mirren Yang was involved in a heavy clash with goalkeeper Jacob Chapman that resulted in his substitution five minutes after scoring the decisive goal five minutes earlier.

With Haissem Hassan missing from international duty for Egypt Celtic could be very light on winger options when they get back into action.

In last week’s  Glasgow Derby Martin O’Neill started with no wingers but ended the match with three on the pitch.

Elsewhere the international schedule is only getting underway with Celtic players facing three or four matches.

Last night Ben Nygren was a 76th minute substitute as Sweden beat Romania 2-1.

Kasper Hogh was an unused substitute on Thursday as Denmark lost to Norway.

Although Celtic have a lot of players on international duty not many are likely to be heavily involved over the next few days.

Auston Trusty is down the pecking order while Camilo Duran has been called into the Colombia squad for the first time.

Celtic’s non-international players should be back at Lennoxtown during the week but it is unlikely that much news will emerge from the club.