The Celtic player, who has been in fine form, will miss both Glasgow derbies against the Rangers this month.
Celtic are heading towards one of the most important weeks of their campaign. After they take on St Johnstone tomorrow, the Hoops have a three-run game that could have a long-term impact on their season.
They will face the Rangers twice over the course of that week. First at Ibrox in the League Cup quarter-final. Second at Celtic Park the following weekend in Premiership action.
Sandwiched between those two Glasgow derbies is the club's Europa League opener against Ferencvaros. Obviously, the fans would want to see the side win all three of those games.
Unfortunately, though, it looks like Celtic are going to be without one of their most important players during this run.
Celtic set to miss important player against Rangers
Yang Hyun-jun is going to miss the next four games for Celtic. And the club are fortunate that the international break begins after that. Otherwise, he could have missed quite a few more.
Yang is going to be away representing South Korea at the Asian Games. That is set to run until October 3.
Martin O'Neill seems to be very open to admitting that his team will miss Yang's presence. According to Football FanCast, he said: “We are going to miss him. He’s in really fine form at the moment.
“If they don’t win the tournament, then he has to do (national) service. I hope they do win it.
“But he’s signed off with a brilliant goal. He’s in great form and he’ll work for you going backwards. He doesn’t mind doing the hard graft.”
It was Yang who scored the winner in Celtic's last outing against St Mirren at the weekend. And he has been a consistent starter under O'Neill for quite some time now.
One could even argue that Yang does not get the credit that he deserves for what he has contributed to this team since last season.
Once a forgotten member of the squad, who most had accepted as a transfer flop, Yang saw a move to Birmingham City fall apart in the final steps. And Celtic were fortunate that it did, because he has gone on to establish himself as a starter since then, completely turning around his Parkhead career.
So, there is no doubt that Celtic will miss him, especially because they do not have a clear outstanding performer in his position who can come in and replace him.
Who could take Yang's place in the starting XI?
One could say that Sebastian Tounekti will be the one taking his place in the starting XI. But it has been a long time since the Tunisian winger was able to impress the fans.
In fact, he has been seen as one of the weak links in this team for quite some time now. So, if Celtic end up having to rely on Tounekti in both their upcoming derbies against the Rangers, it would be far from ideal.
But unfortunately, it does look like that is exactly what is going to happen as a result of Yang's national team responsibilities.
