SOUTH KOREAN striker Oh Hyeon-gyu is delighted to have a father figure at the Bhoys as he settles into life at Celtic and a new country.
Thirty-five-year-old 75 times-capped England keeper Joe Hart has been happy to take on the role of making sure the January recruit is made at home at the club and in the fresh surroundings.
Oh admitted the veteran netminder had been looking after him on and off the field – following strict instructions from Son Heung-min.
READY TO EXPLODE…Oh Hyeon-gyu heads for the corner flag before showing his delight after his first Celtic goal against St Mirren at Parkhead on Saturday.
Hart and the Korean hero were team-mates at Spurs and Harry Kane’s striking sidekick has been checking to make sure the Hoops No.1 is taking care of the 21-year-old new arrival.
Oh has responded with some promising minutes as a substitute in the league wins over Dundee United, Livingston and St Johnstone and he pounced to slam in his first goal for the club in the 5-1 Scottish Cup victory over St Mirren at Parkhead at the weekend.
The powerhouse hitman came on in the 63rd minute for Filipe Jota and helped seal the Hoops’ place in tonight’s quarter-final draw at Hampden which is scheduled to take place at 5.30pm.
Oh said: “Joe Hart was a team-mate of Son at Spurs and he’s told me that they’d spoken on the phone and Son told him to look after me! He’s been great, he’s been helping me settle in.
IT TAKES TWO…Oh Hweon-gyu and Sead Haksabanovic are about to celebrate the South Korean’s breakthrough strike at Parkhead.
“I have spoken to a few of the Korean players who are playing in the UK, guys like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan at Wolves. They haven’t given me advice as such, but they have told me what the game is like over here and what to expect.
“They contacted me first and asked me how my life was. I am grateful that Heung-min and Hee-chan got in touch and it gave me great strength.”
Oh was delighted to be informed a handful of fans from his homeland visited Glasgow on Saturday to see a glimpse of their international attacker in action and the £2.5million former Suwon Bluewings forward, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “There were some fans from Korea who came over to watch the game at Celtic Park.
“There are not many Koreans living here, so it’s great if there are some who are here to see me.
“It’s nice to have that support and I was pleased they managed to see me score a goal. The important thing was we managed to win the game, but it was good to get the goal, as well.”
Oh is being carefully managed by boss Ange Postecoglou as he builds fitness and has only made a handful of sub appearances so far. But Hoops fans like what they see with the striker.
ON THE BALL…striker Oh Hyeon-gyu displays the power that persuaded Ange Posteconglou to pay £2.5million for him last month.
The youngster has been knocked out by the reception he has received in the city and the fact the supporters are already chanting his name.
He added: “I was so happy to hear the fans singing, so happy to hear that they already have a song for me with my last name.
“My aim now is to try my best to make sure our fans can sing that song very often. That would be wonderful.
“I’m enjoying every day of my life in Glasgow because all the people have been so kind and friendly to me. The people here in Glasgow are so friendly that they always have fun every day.
”It’s a very exciting time and it is a privilege, a real honour, to play at such a great club like Celtic with such amazing team-mates.
“I will try to develop myself and contribute in this league, in the Cup Final and now a quarter-final, as well.”
OH, OH, OH, IT’S MAGIC YOU KNOW
