Hyunjun Yang and Hyeongyu Oh, two Celtic players, were removed from the South Korea national team this week.
Both Celtic players are not included on the South Korea team that interim national coach Hwang Sun-hong has shared for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Thailand later this month. [Khan Sports]
Oh and Yang were frequent picks under former national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Though there is always hope for one of them, the Celtic pair are no longer in the picture with the iconic German striker gone.
Regarding the West Asian Football Confederation (WAFF) U-23 Championship team that will compete in Saudi Arabia on March 11, Sun-hong gave Hyunjun Yang some optimism.
“Lee Kang-eun is not available for the qualifiers,” stated Sun-hong [Nocut News]. We need to talk to Paris Saint-Germain once more. We have no other option, which makes it difficult.
Bae Jun-ho has committed to competing in the qualifiers, although the team might decide otherwise. In March, he will train with us in preparation for the qualifications.
Kim Ji-soo and Hyunjun Yang are in the same boat. They have requested authorization from their clubs.
“But whether or not they are chosen for the main event depends on a number of factors.” [DEEP L. translated this]
To be honest, the exclusion of the pair from the A team is not really a surprise. Oh has been missing from the Celtic first team since he returned from the Asia Cup.
Furthermore, Yang has never truly found the consistency at Parkhead to justify another overseas call-up, even though Klinsmann has a high opinion of him.
Perhaps because of his recent little purple patch of form, the 22-year-old winger’s door isn’t fully closed.