Brendan Rodgers’ remarks about Yang Hyun-jun have sparked discussion, with SunSport chief football writer Robert Grieve suggesting the manager is subtly putting pressure on the Celtic board.
Yang’s Celtic career has so far been inconsistent, with flashes of ability offset by erratic form.
Until recently, few fans would have been disappointed to see the South Korean winger move on. But with the club currently short in wide areas following the departure of Nicolas Kuhn, Rodgers made it clear Yang remains a key part of his plans at least for now.
“I found it very, very interesting that Brendan Rodgers was talking about Yang being a vital squad player as things stand.
“It was almost, for me, a message that he was sending out is, ‘listen, if I don’t get another winger in here, Yang’s the guy who plays. Or certainly, he’s a guy who’s going to play a lot of minutes’.
“I’m convinced that that’s a message being sent out by Brendan Rodgers.
“When he’s talking about Yang being an important part of the squad and how he’s currently the guy who’s starting for Celtic, that’s a message being sent by the Celtic manager. ‘If I don’t get another winger in, or the kind of quality that I like, then this is a guy who’s going to be starting a lot of games’.”
“Brendan Rodgers is sending a message to the board”
Chief football writer Robert Grieve was intrigued by his comments about Yang 👀
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📺 https://t.co/xgLD3A5Bph pic.twitter.com/bpYsJUqfwE— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) July 25, 2025
Rodgers will be desperate to add a winger to his squad, with just three natural wide players in the senior squad. While Celtic continues to monitor targets, the manager’s public backing of Yang may be less about the player and more about squad depth.
The league kicks off in 10 days, and as it stands, Yang and Maeda will start on the wing with James Forrest on the bench. Celtic fans have everything crossed that there are no injuries on the flanks, or the squad could be in a really awkward position heading into the Champions League qualifiers in just over 20 days’ time.
The recruitment team needs to step up and get some players through the door.
