It’s no secret that outspoken journalist Hugh Keevins has never been the biggest fan of one particular Celtic player.
But all of his criticism and derisory comments about Hoops winger Yang Hyun-jun are certainly coming back to bite him now.
Keevins has been previously forced into an embarrassing U-turn regarding Ange Postecoglou and his credentials as the Celtic manager.
And now it’s the same for Yang. The South Korean has been in flying form for the Bhoys of late and scored twice last weekend as Celtic thumped St Mirren 5-2.
It was his introduction in the second-half that completely changed the outlook of the game and some Celtic fans think he’s providing Nicolas Kuhn proper competition.
Rodgers says Yang is ‘making valuable contributions’ to the Celtic side having registered five goal contributions in his last three Premiership appearances.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Hugh Keevins’ climbdown regarding Celtic winger Yang
Keevins has previously branded Yang ‘not good enough’ for Celtic – so what does he make of Yang’s tremendous form now?
Well, he went as far as saying on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that the winger played like Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe in Paisley last weekend.
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Here’s how the conversation went down on Friday night as an annoyed Keevins provided credit where credit is due:
Scott Allan: “Celtic have players who come off the bench when the starters, who are fantastic players, aren’t doing it and are capable of winning games.
Gordon Duncan: “Who would be the main ones who come off the bench?”
Allan: “That would be Hugh’s fan favourite Yang who was outstanding last Saturday (against St Mirren). He was electric.
Duncan: “Two headers!
Hugh Keevins: “He came on for half an hour and looked like Kylian Mbappe, never mind Yang! And I had Marvin Bartley on (at me) all night and I’m waiting for my chance to get back at him.
“But well done to Yang because they were two fantastic goals and an incredible assist for Daizen Maeda.”
Nicolas Kuhn was recognised alongside Kylian Mbappe in 2024
Of course, Keevins’ comparison was an exaggeration because no current Celtic star will ever reach the levels of the Real Madrid forward.
But Yang’s fellow Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn was technically put into the same bracket as Mbappe when it came to TNT Sports ranking the best Champions League goals scored across 2024.
Kuhn’s opening goal against RB Leipzig this season made the top 20 and the German actually pipped Mbappe in the rankings.
Mbappe made the list with his tremendous goal for PSG against Real Sociedad last season as he whipped a lethal right-footed effort into the far corner of the net.