MARTIN O’NEILL was smiling when he said he hoped matchwinner Yang Hyun-jun is a loser when he plays for South Korea in the Asian Games later this month.
The winger netted the goal to cap Celtic’s 2-1 comeback victory over St Mirren in Paisley last night – and will now miss four games for the Hoops while he’s on international duty.
Yang will not be available for Wednesday’s Premiership match against St Johnstone in Perth, the derby double against Derek McInnes’ side in the Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox a week today and the league meeting at Parkhead the following weekend.
In between the derby confrontations, Celtic have their opening Europa League tie against Ferencvaros in the east end of Glasgow.
SIGNING OFF WITH A WINNER…Yang Hyun-jun delivers the thumbs-up after netting Celtic’s second and points-clinching goal in Paisley.
O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “We are going to miss him. Really disappointed. He’s in really fine form at the moment.
“I hope they get beaten quickly! No, I don’t. I don’t. Please, scrub that!
“He’ll read this and he’ll be really disappointed.
“But, no, because if they do, if they don’t win the tournament, then he has to do national service. So I hope they do win it. But, yeah, he’s signed off. Brilliant goal.
“He’s in great form and he’ll work for you going backwards. He doesn’t mind doing that hard graft.”
Yang is proving to be one of the team’s most consistent performer since the season kicked off in early August and he proved his deadly touch again in the champions’ 3-0 victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead during the week when he notched the killer third strike.
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