It’s simpler mentioned than completed, however avoiding the temptation to guage gamers too shortly is a worthwhile pursuit – not least at a historic membership like Celtic.
How typically have gamers been virtually written off from the outset, solely to go on to shine after being afforded the time to correctly settle in at Parkhead?
Take Nicolas Kuhn, for instance, with the German winger enduring a sticky first six months in Glasgow following his arrival from Fast Vienna, the £3m signing ending the 2023/24 marketing campaign with simply three targets and three assists to his identify in 18 video games in all competitions.
Quick ahead to the current day, and the 25-year-old is now a central determine in Brendan Rodgers’ aspect, with the wing wizard having contributed 31 targets and assists in 40 video games to this point this time period.
It could should be mentioned tentatively, however maybe the identical situation might happen with man of the second, Yang Hyun-jun, with the 22-year-old starting to lastly make his mark for the Scottish Champions.
Yang’s current rise at Celtic
Signed throughout Rodgers’ first summer season again in cost, the £2m addition has definitely taken a good whereas to get going for the Hoops, after scoring simply as soon as and contributing solely three assists in whole final season.
Firmly behind the likes of Kuhn and Daizen Maeda on the flanks, the previous Gangwon starlet additionally endured a sluggish begin to the present marketing campaign, with it taking till mid-January to attain his first purpose in all competitions.
Since netting away at Dundee, nevertheless, the South Korean winger has begun to seek out his groove, notably supplying the help for Maeda towards Bayern Munich at Celtic Park, whereas additionally registering three purpose involvements within the Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers.
Equally, throughout his final three Premiership outings, the in-form menace has three targets and two assists to his identify, with Rodgers having quipped that the ahead has been aided by the presence of his girlfriend in Glasgow.
No matter has been the inspiration for this upturn in type, lengthy could it proceed, with Rodgers definitely blessed with a wealth of choices on the flanks following Jota’s January homecoming and James Forrest’s impending return from harm.
Yang’s recreation in numbers vs St Mirren |
|---|
25 minutes performed |
2 targets |
1 assists |
1 large probability created |
24 touches |
89% go accuracy |
2 key passes |
0/1 profitable dribbles |
0/3 whole duels gained |
5x possession misplaced |
Stats through Sofascore |
That mentioned, for all of the reward that Yang has deservedly raked in of late, the Hoops did let go of a star who has really nonetheless outscored the Korean this season.
The ex-Celtic man who’s now shining elsewhere
Life after Celtic is not all the time plain crusing – simply ask Jota.
Matt O’Riley, as an illustration, has solely began 5 Premier League video games since making the transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion final summer season. Kyogo Furuhashi, in the meantime, has been an unused substitute in three of Rennes’ six Ligue 1 video games since his swap to France in January.
That mentioned, not all of those that transfer on are cursed to battle, with a sure Tomoki Iwata at the moment shining for League One highflyers, Birmingham Metropolis, following his exit from the Outdated Agency aspect over the summer season.
The Japanese midfielder – who moved on to England for an undisclosed price, reported to be simply £820k – by no means really managed to shake off his standing as a bit-part participant at Celtic, making simply 42 appearances in whole in his function as Callum McGregor’s understudy.
A protected and regular pair of fingers in his time at Parkhead, Iwata has proven he’s a lot greater than that for the Blues, having already chalked up seven targets in all competitions this time period – forward of Yang’s return of 5.
That creditable haul consists of the 27-year-old’s belting effort within the slim FA Cup defeat to Premier League opponents, Newcastle United, final month, with the midfield maestro rifling in from vary in very good style.
Such an affect in an attacking sense has seen the one-time Yokohama Marinos man lauded by his new boss, Chris Davies, with the promotion-chasing coach stating:
“He’s harmful. He has good approach. Clearly, we’ve got seen it on each toes and he retains it down and places good energy on it, accuracy, so sure, arriving on the sting of the field, he’s a goalscorer.“
That attacking high quality was definitely hardly ever on present for Celtic, as his tally of 1 purpose can attest to, with it to Iwata’s credit score that he has managed to make an affect so swiftly in his new environment.
Maybe then the sale was merely the perfect resolution for all events, but there could be a tinge of remorse at having offered Ange Postecoglou’s signing on a budget, not least with there nonetheless a spot within the squad for a rival or successor to McGregor.
As it’s, Iwata will proceed to play a outstanding function in Birmingham’s bid to safe an immediate return to the second tier, whereas for Rodgers and Co, the home treble nonetheless lies in wait.
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The previous Celtic star has thrived since his transfer away from Parkhead.
