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'All him': Celtic detail rapid rise of 24y/o after nearly sealing transfer as coach's role tweaked Maloney impressed by the way winger has raised his game Celtic’s pursuit of a new winger has been well-documented this summer, but one already in the building has impressed the club’s coaching staff. Yang Hyun-jun was on his way out of Celtic a year ago and came very close to joining Birmingham City. Twelve months on, he is an important part of the first-team squad. The 24-year-old move to Celtic in 2023 from Gangwon and while the South Korean took time to settle, he was one of the chief players in last season’s success, scoring important goals against Rangers and Feyenoord. He was rewarded with a new contract earlier this year and was part of his country’s squad for the World Cup. And while Celtic are closing in on a new winger in Oviedo’s Haissem Hassan, assistant coach Shaun Maloney reckons Yang will still have a major part to play on the right flank while also being able to play on the left. “Yang kind of just took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year,” said Maloney. “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'. But we need a left-sided player there too because you can attack differently. So, we need to strengthen that side of the attack. "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. 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. Trying to replicate Maeda’s Celtic work "He's a really big player. And he's so good for the team. I think his teammates love him for the work rate. I completely see a difference in where he is now with his teammates. The staff and also the support. The support really recognises how hard he works. He is an incredible worker. “Daizan (Maeda) was about as good an attacking player as I've seen without the ball. Yang is trying desperately to get to those levels. He's really, really popular with his teammates. I would say that that just comes with hard work. Because not every winger has an amazing game, attacking-wise. But if you can give a side of the game to your teammates, then you'll find yourself in the team in big games.” Yang also benefits from the emphasis current manager Martin O’Neill puts on wingers - and he also has Maloney in his corner, a former wide-man himself. “Martin is really aggressive in that he wants wingers to take on their opponent when we create a one on one,” explained Maloney. “He gives the wingers the confidence that they can do that and that they shouldn’t worry about losing it. “You aren’t going to beat a full-back in a one v one every time. What those players need is the support and confidence from the manager that makes them go and try again the next time. If they lose it again, you have to go again. “Martin has always been that way. I remember when I was young he was the same. He has always urged wingers to go for a one v one. We have some work to do with other wingers, who are talented but maybe need to add goals and assists. But Martin is great in encouraging the one v ones.” Maloney’s role within the coaching set-up has changed slightly this season after the departure of Gavin Strachan to West Brom. He now does focused work with the attacking players and says there is a good blend between himself, the manager, plus fellow coaches Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham. “I have picked up the individual work with the attacking players after games,” said Maloney. “Last season it was Gavin Strachan who did that. I can’t take any credit for that! We also had Greg Wallace, who went Saudi with Brendan [Rodgers] recently, and those two were really good with the individual stuff. “I was doing things away from the pitch more, so I will pick more of that up this season. I would love to say it was all me last year but it wasn’t. Stephen McManus and Foz do their stuff with different positions, but it was Gav and Gregg who did the attacking work.” Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.