​Shaun Maloney praises Celtic winger YangIt’s no secret that Celtic have been in the hunt for a quality winger this summer, and with the imminent signing of Haissem Hassan, that problem seems to have been resolved…One player who is currently at the club is also seen as a key asset in the eyes of the coaching staff, and that’s South Korean international Yang.9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney. Photo Vagelis GeorgariouAssistant manager Shaun Maloney, talking about Yang, was high in praise for the 24 year old, who only a year ago was seen as surplus to requirements at the club. Indeed he was close to joining English Championship side Birmingham City, only for the deal to fall through at the twelfth hour due to Celtic’s own failings at board level in the summer 2025 transfer window.9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Hyunjun Yang of Celtic. Photo Vagelis GeorgariouWhen Martin O’Neill took temporary charge last October in the aftermath of Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, the veteran Irishman’s input seemed to give the South Korean forward a new lease of life, and he responded by putting in some impressive performances, which led to him signing a new improved deal towards the end of last season.And whilst the imminent signing of Hassan will be seen as a major coup, Maloney believes that Yang still has a big part to play, on both the right and left flanks.“Yang kind of just took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year,” Maloney admitted, as reported by Glasgow Times.“Really, Yang went to another level. I think he’s always been that sort of quite good player, impact player at the club. But last year, he went, ‘I want to be an important player’.9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Hyunjun Yang of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou“But we need a left-sided player there too because you can attack differently. So, we need to strengthen that side of the attack.”Maloney continued: “We came in in October. I remember speaking to him in that first couple of days. We trained some really basic things, but he just showed some really good one-on-one talent off the left. “Honestly, it was just him. He started to come on as a sub for Martin, had a really good impact. And then he was off and running.“He earned the manager’s trust. He’s got an unbelievable work rate. In the first half against Dundee, he wasn’t particularly good attacking. He was brilliant without the ball.9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Hyunjun Yang of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou“So, he just earned the trust of the manager and us as staff. And then maybe a little bit of confidence as well. I really like him as a player when he’s at his best. And then he just goes. He’s taken it. It’s got nothing to do with us. It’s all him.Maloney