Martin O’Neill has confirmed Celtic are likely to be without Yang Hyun-jun for a number of weeks due to his international commitments with South Korea.
That creates a clear issue for Celtic, with the tournament clashing with the first Premiership meeting against Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20.
Speaking to the Daily Record after Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Shelbourne, O’Neill addressed Yang’s situation and made clear the club were already aware of the issue before extending the player’s contract.
O’Neill said: “He’s in, and also he’s got military duties and all that type of stuff, you know, so he’s got all of that there.
“So we might have to miss him for a number of weeks, but so be it. But we knew that before we extended his contract.”
Celtic clearly knew Yang’s Asian Games involvement could affect his availability before they moved to secure him on a new deal. That suggests the club were happy to accept the short-term disruption because they see value in keeping him beyond this season.
For Yang, the call-up is a major opportunity.
South Korea’s Asian Games squads always carry extra importance because winning gold can lead to exemption from mandatory military service. That gives the tournament huge personal and professional significance for players selected.
From Celtic’s point of view, though, the timing is far from ideal.
Yang could now miss a key stretch of the season, including the first derby against Rangers. Losing a wide option for that game would be a blow, especially when O’Neill is already looking to add more depth to the squad.
The manager’s comments were calm rather than frustrated. His “so be it” line suggests Celtic are prepared to deal with the situation, even if it leaves them short for a few weeks.
Yang enjoyed a stronger campaign last season and became a more useful option in the attacking areas. He is not guaranteed to start every major game, but his pace and direct running give Celtic something different from the bench or from the start.
His expected absence only adds to the importance of Celtic getting more attacking business done before the window closes.
The club are already closing in on Camilo Duran, while other attacking options continue to be linked. Yang’s situation is a reminder that squad depth matters, especially when international tournaments, injuries and European qualifiers all start to collide.
Celtic have backed Yang with a new contract, and O’Neill has made clear they knew this was coming. Now the task is making sure his absence does not leave the squad short when the first major domestic test arrives.
