OH HYEON-GYU is in danger of becoming Celtic’s forgotten man after a dramatic fade from the first-team picture.
The South Korean striker has rarely figured since returning from the Asian Cup in Qatar last month.
Brendan Rodgers overlooked the powerful frontman for his squads in the 2-0 loss at Hearts and the 7-1 win over Dundee while Oh was an unused substitute in the 3-1 comeback victory at Motherwell where Adam Idah, the champions’ deadline-day loan signing from Norwich City, netted twice in a rousing second-half.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Joe Hart has a word with Oh Hyeon-gyu after Celtic’s 3-1 win over St Johnstone in Perth in December.
Apart from a brief 80th-minute substutute’s appearance in last month’s dismal 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Parkhead when he came on as a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, there has been no show from the frontman who joined in January 2023 from the K-League on a five-year contract.
It’s clear Rodgers’ preference for a big presence as an attack-leader is now Republic of Ireland international Idah, who has claimed five goals since his arrival.
Coincidentally, that’s the same amount Oh has collected this season, including the late winner against St Mirren in Glasgow at the beginning of November.
He followed up with doubles in the 6-0 success over Aberdeen later that month and the 4-1 victory over Hibs, both at Parkhead, in December.
Oh has been firing blanks since that encounter. It’s a bit of a contrast to this time last season when he celebrated a penalty-kick strike in the Hoops’ comprehensive 5-1 thrashing of Stephen Robinson’s side in Paisley.
OOPS…Oh Hyeon-gyu misses an opportunity smack in front of Kilmarnock keeper Will Dennis in Celtic’s late 2-1 collapse at Rugby Park in December.
The burly hitman went on to claim the crucial second goal against Hearts in Edinburgh on May 7 to seal Ange Postecoglou’s second successive title after Kyogo had netted the opener.
And Oh shared the spotlight with the prolific Japanese ace on the last day of another successful Premiership crusade when they netted two apiece in the 5-0 rout of the Dons on Flag Day in the east end of Glasgow.
Now, though, it appears his Celtic career has stalled although Rodgers could grant him some much-needed game-time in the Scottish Cup quarter-final match against Livingston at Parkhead on Sunday.
It could turn out to be a frustrating run-in to the season for the 22-year-old forward who has to accept being third in the pecking order behind Kyogo and Idah.
