Yang predicts Celtic Champions League fever in Korea as fans set the alarm to tune in to trio

Yang Hyun-jun has more reasons than most to hope South Korea appears on the medal podium for football at next summer’s Olympics.

The new Celtic recruit revealed a gold, silver or bronze at Paris 2024 comes with an exemption pass from military service which is normally an 18-month stint of being confined to barracks. It’s just one of the 21-year-old’s targets after arriving at the Hoops on a five-year-deal after catching the eye as the K League young player of the year last season.

Avoiding the draft is just one of Yang’s immediate aims but he’s also planning on getting to grips with Scottish football’s physical demands and helping the fans get over the summer departure of previous Parkhead wing king Jota. He said: “At the Olympics we need to earn a bronze medal at the minimum. There are a lot of good players born in 2001, so I can aim for this. I also need to work on my physicality and my conditioning training.

“I know the level of football in Europe is very high so I will start that as soon as I can. My first step is to adapt to the football here and play as many minutes as I can, let’s see how it goes. When I was shown around the stadium it was very fascinating and I was very impressed. I was so happy looking at it and it felt like my dream was coming true. I always like stadia where it’s full. I’m sure that the fans here at Celtic will inspire me and support me in my bid to be an offensive player and help Celtic attack. I have watched a lot of Celtic matches and I know it is an attacking team. I am that kind of player but at the same time, I always try to get involved in defensive play as well.”

The winger will also link-up with countryman Hyeongyu Oh at Celtic who’s become a friend and a source of inspiration not