Yang is part of the South Korea team aiming to go all the way in the Asian Games in Japan
Celtic star Yang(Image: Vagelis Geogariou/Action Plus/Shutterstock)
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Celtic wide man Yang insists he is fit and firing for the Asian Games semi final as South Korea eye up gold medal glory in Japan.
The 24-year-old has been struggling with a slight hamstring problem and was an unused substitute in the 4-0 quarter final thumping of Vietnam on Friday. But Yang - who has been a top performer for the Hoops since Martin O'Neill's return to the Parkhead dugout - has declared himself fit to face China in the last four of the tournament in Osaka on Tuesday.
The winner of the tie will meet the victors of the clash between hosts Japan and Uzbekistan in the final in Fukuroi on October 2. South Korea are desperate to win the gold medal as it would make Yang and his teammates exempt from military service.
He said: "I’m sorry for not contributing to the team. But I’ve fully recovered my fitness now."
Meanwhile, Yang's club teammate Mika Baur could become the first Celtic player to represent Germany in 17 years against Serbia on Thursday. The playmaker was included in a huge 44-man squad by new Die Mannschaft boss Jurgen Klopp for the September internationals, with the roster split into two for Germany's four Nations League fixtures.
Klopp is still searching for his first win in the role following a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and a shock 1-0 defeat to Greece in Augsburg on Sunday night. But with the Liverpool hero now set to shake up his pack for the clash against Serbia and next Sunday's rematch with the Greeks, Baur is set to follow in the footsteps of Andreas Hinkel, who pulled on the Germany shirt while turning out for Celtic back in 2009.
Former Celtic star Andreas Hinkel
Former Celtic star Andreas Hinkel
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Speaking after Sunday's disappointing loss to Greece, Klopp said: "Football, that's how it is. I could have easily accepted a draw but losing - that's harsh. I don't think we deserved that, but it happened anyway. Greece had a plan for the game tonight. We have to be more convinced about what we are doing."
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