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Celtic winger Yang is close to a first team return after returning to training following a spell on the treatment table due to a hamstring issue…
Liam Scales, Tony Ralston, Yang and Dane Murray of Celtic Celtic Training at Lennoxtown, 04 November 2026 Photo Shutterstock/IMAGO
The 24 year old has been absent since picking up the injury during South Korea under-23s Asian Games campaign, and is now fit and raring to go, although the Europa League clash with Besiktas this evening will be too soon for the South Korean, even though he wants to play.
Yang set for Celtic return this weekend
Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock is a more realistic target according to the Celtic manager, and his return will provide Martin O’Neill another option in the wider areas, with the likes of Jota, Haissem Hassan, and James Forrest also available, whilst Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran are also able to play in those wide areas, if required.
The Irishman is certainly hopeful that Yang will be available for Sunday’s game against Kilmarnock, as the hoops look to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership with three points as vital as ever after following the defeat at Falkirk and home draw with Dundee United. Many see this as five points squandered by the Hoops and rightly so.
Martin O’Neill provides Yang fitness update
The Celtic boss said at his mainstream media conference yesterday: “Yang’s done a little bit of training. Yes, maybe too early for him for tomorrow. Hopefully he’s going to be around for Sunday. Definitely wants to be.
“And if Yang had his way he’d even be thinking about tomorrow himself. He’s really keyed up for it now.”
5th September 2026; The Marbill Coaches Stadium, Paisley, Scottish Premiership, St Mirren versus Celtic; Yang Hyun jun of Celtic celebrates after he shoots and scores in the 68th minute to make it 2-1 to Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Yang perhaps Celtic’s best performer at start of season
Yang is a clear favourite in the eyes of Martin O’Neill, and has produced some of the best football of his career under the Irishman. The player spoke about the influence Daizen Maeda had on him and his hope to follow in Daizen’s footsteps.
Indeed, he was arguably our best performer before he was called up for his country for the Asian games scoring twice and assisting once in just seven appearances.
5th September 2026; The Marbill Coaches Stadium, Paisley, Scottish Premiership, St Mirren versus Celtic; Yang Hyun jun of Celtic celebrates after he shoots and scores in the 68th minute to make it 2-1 to Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Defensive side of Yang’s game better than any other winger at the club
It’s not just his ability in an attack sense that’s been missed, but his willingness to the defensive side of things has also been felt in his absence.
Hyunjun Yang of Celtic controls the ball during the Scottish Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park on August 03, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Yang returning will certainly give Celtic a much needed boost at the weekend and hopefully the team will go into that game against Kilmarnock on the back of a positive result and performance against the odds against Besiktas at Celtic Park this evening.
Here’s Martin O’Neill’s media conference which once again excluded the Celtic fan media, for reasons unknown…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/yang-set-imminent-return-besiktas-103800904.html
