Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for Hyunjun Yang after the South Korean winger scored his first goal for the club in their dramatic 3-3 draw with Dundee at Dens Park.
Yang’s header, a rare sight given his usual preference for shooting from distance, was one of the game’s standout moments and provided a much-needed confidence boost for the hard-working 21-year-old.
The goal was his first of the season, despite racking up a lot of minutes.
When asked about Yang’s performance, Rodgers couldn’t hide his delight for the winger. He commended the amount of effort Yang has been putting into his game on the training pitch.
“Bless him. He gave everything in the game. I’ve got to say he’s done about 100 hours shooting practice and he scores with a header! He’s worked so hard at his game, bless him. He gives his all.
“He had some good moments in the first half. He puts so much extra work in the training field. From then, I expect us to go on because we’re good in those moments.
“We’ve got to defend better.” [TCW]
The South Korean has shown glimpses of his potential but has often found himself on the fringes of the starting XI, competing with the likes of Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, James Forrest and Luis Palma for a spot on the wings.
With injuries to key wingers, Yang has been handed more opportunities in recent weeks, and his goal at Dens Park will give him the confidence to kick on and make a bigger impact in the second half of the season.
Rodgers will be hoping Yang’s hard work continues to pay off, especially with Celtic’s demanding fixture schedule, including crucial Champions League matches, just around the corner.
