Hyeon-gyu Oh on playing for Celtic: “From a football standpoint, everything is great”

Celtic’s January signing Hyeon-gyu Oh has certainly made a favourable impression in his short time with Celtic since signing from Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

The South Korean striker came off the bench to put Celtic in front against Hibs at the weekend, with a goal that evidenced his strength and positioning as much as his impressive finishing. That was his third goal in the Hoops despite being used exclusively as a substitute since replacing Giorgis Giakoumakis as Celtic’s back up option to the outstanding Kyogo Furuhashi.

Hyeongyu Oh left scores our second goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match against Hibs at Celtic Park on Saturday March 18, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

That form for Celtic has led to Oh being called up for his national team’s upcoming fixtures with Colombia and Uruguay in Ulsan and Seoul where former Germany international Jurgen Klinsmann will be his new coach.

And whilst Oh has certainly impressed at Celtic – indeed he has claimed, as reported in Glasgow Times, that even in a short spell at Celtic he feels he’s already improved as a player – picking up some tips from the likes of Klinsmann, a player who was an outstanding striker in his heyday, can only help add further layers to Oh’s game.

Meanwhile Spurs striker Son Heung-min, whose recovery from injury led to Oh dropping out of South Korea’s World Cup squad for Qatar, has also been keen to ensure his countryman is well looked after at Celtic and has recruited former teammate Joe Hart to keep a watchful eye on young Oh.

“I already feel I am better as a player. The experience at Celtic has shown me a lot of new things. I believe I have grown already and hopefully; I can show everyone here if I play in these games.
“Coach Klinsmann was obviously very famous as a player and I am hoping he will help me learn as a fellow striker. I want to show him what I can do. Just to be part of the group is a huge honour for me.
“At Celtic, I have been a sub mostly, but that is not a problem for me, It will take time to adjust to my new surroundings and environment. From a football standpoint, everything is great. My colleagues have helped me out.”
“Son Heung-min told Joe Hart to look after me when I arrived and he’s done that. He’s quickly become a friend. The only thing I am not comfortable with is the jet lag. I am exhausted. Son must have done this journey hundreds of times and I don’t know how he manages it. He told me to rest and sleep well.
“My goal internationally is to win the Asian Cup. I want to help this team to lift the trophy.”

With Klinsmann as a coach and Son Heung-min as an international mentor it’s fair to say Oh has some high calibre experience to tap into whilst on international duty over the next couple of weeks, even if they can’t help with the jet-lag.

Hyeongyu Oh celebrates scoring our second goal of the game against Hibs at Celtic Park on Saturday March 18, 2023.Photo Steve Welsh

It’s far too early to judge Oh’s form in a Celtic shirt given he’s yet to start a game and he’s only just arrived in Scotland, but the early signs are promising indeed, and it seems he’s also got an experienced goalkeeper at Celtic keeping an eye on his progression, to add to the international influence of Klinsmann and Son.

Niall J

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As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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