Oh Hyeon-gyu

Turnbull had assists in goals 2 and 3.

 

New Celtic hero Oh Hyeon-gyu reckons he's already hugely improved as a player in his short time at Celtic as he vowed to impress new South Korea boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

Oh grabbed a vital goal on Saturday as Celtic came from behind to beat Hibs and has already netted three times for his new club since his January move from Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

He made his international debut in November against Iceland but missed out on the WorldCup when Spurs ace Son Heung-min was declared fit.

Oh is set to play in Klinsmann's first games in charge of the Asian nation this week against Colombia and Uruguay in Ulsan and Seoul.

And he's revealed how quickly he's settled into life at Celtic...thanks to the help of Son.

He said: "I already feel I am better as a player. The experience at Celtic has shown me a lot of new things.

"I believe I have grown already and hopefully, I can show everyone here if I play in these games.

Coach Klinsmann was obviously very famous as a player and I am hoping he will help me learn as a fellow striker. I want to show him what I can do.

"Just to be part of the group is a huge honour for me.

"At Celtic, I have been a sub mostly, but that is not a problem for me, It will take time to adjust to my new surroundings and environment.

"From a football standpoint, everything is great. My colleagues have helped me out. Son Heung-min told Joe Hart to look after me when I arrived and he's done that!

"He's quickly become a friend.

"The only thing I am not comfortable with is the jet lag. I am exhausted.

"Son must have done this journey hundreds of times and I don't know how he manages it. He told me to rest and sleep well.

"My goal internationally is to win the Asian Cup. I want to help this team to lift the trophy."

 

It's interesting to hear him mention jet lag. I'm the sort of person that deals horribly with shift work and that kind of thing, I can't imagine having to play 90 minutes of football under those circumstances.

 

The kid is complaining about jetlag from a 12-13 hour flight. Imagine the Aussies who do 24 hours!

 

Who do you think
Our very own Big O.

 

Such is the rate at which Celtic fans break out new songs for new heroes, there’s always some wonder at just how they are churned out at such a successful rate.

However, no one was left scratching their head at how the latest song came to fruition for one of Ange Postecoglou's January additions.

Hyeongyu Oh arrived with a strong record in the K-League, scoring 13 goals in his final season for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, which was enough to excite Celtic fans. Coupled with a surname that opened a host of opportunities for new songs, everyone was looking forward to seeing the player out on the pitch.

Ever since pulling on the Hoops he has quickly shown why the manager fought so hard to sign him - a striker with strength, speed and a sense for goal - and he’s quickly adapted to life at Celtic.



Ange Postecoglou admitted there were times when he was unsure if the transfer would even happen but from the moment Celtic showed interest, Oh knew where he wanted to go.

Speaking exclusively to the latest issue of the Celtic View, the striker said: “It could have been easy for the manager to give up if it didn’t seem like working out, but I’m thankful that he didn't.

'I was a little bit nervous, but there was nothing I could do. As a Suwon player at that time, I had to show my best performance for them.'

“I actually heard about the interest last summer. Ever since I heard this news I was dying to join Celtic. The process was very exhausting, but now I have the happiest moments here, getting to lift a trophy with amazing team-mates and having all these new experiences.

"As the manager wanted me so much, I want to pay him back by scoring a lot of goals. My first goal when I got to the club was to get fit again as quickly as possible.

"When I came to Scotland it was in the middle of the season and in Korea the season was over. I'm very fit now compared to when I started and I hope I can show more of my better side.”

Born in April 2001, Oh is still very much in the embryonic stage of his football career. Yet age just seems to be a number, as he stands looking anything but a man in his early 20s with a frame that is already testing defences in Scotland.

The biggest game in his opening month was certainly the League Cup final, where Oh replaced Kyogo in the 2-1 win over Rangers to help seal another trophy for the Hoops.

Reflecting on the final, he said: “It’s a great honour for me to win the League Cup even though I had only been here a month. It's also been a while since I won a domestic cup, so I was very happy to win the title and play with our outstanding players.

“There isn’t much of a difference between winning a cup in Korea or Scotland because winning is winning, but I saw the stadium was split between both fans and through our supporters’ incredible songs, we were able to gain strength and win the game.

"That was the motivation and the reason we weren't exhausted to the end. When we celebrated with the fans after the match, I even got a little emotional.”

 

That was the bragging rights donkey cup fella, just you wait until we lift the Scottish Cup for the treble, your gonna * yer pants lad.

 

Wait till his ear drums burst when we score at home in the champions league against a big gun he'll faint

 

That comment about knowing of our interest since the summer is a reminder that players will be hearing about moves all the time. No surprise some have their head turned easily.

 

Really like this guy already.

 

Would bring a tear to yer eye that. Brilliant

 

Instantly very likeable lad. Fantastic attitude and clearly v mature for his age.

 

He's going to be a huge success.

 

On for the last half hour came on for Cho

 

Oh Hyeon-gyu has insisted he is "stronger" than Cho Gue-sung as he revealed how his experience at Celtic has helped him so far.

The striker has certainly announced himself at the Parkhead club since making the move there from Suwon Samsung Bluewings during the January transfer window, scoring three goals in 10 appearances in all competitions so far. Oh only made his senior international debut back in November and his form for Ange Postecoglou's Celtic side earned him a call-up to the South Korea squad for this international break as well.





He was brought on as a second-half substitute for former Hoops transfer target Cho in his country's 2-2 draw in a friendly with Colombia on Friday evening. But while Oh admits to being disappointed with his own performance on the evening, he still reckons areas of his game are stronger than Cho's and that his performances in Scottish football have only helped him in that regard




Oh said: "It's been a long time since I made my A-match debut in an exhibition match against Iceland in November last year.

"It was an honour to play in front of so many fans. It was hard to adjust to jet lag at first. I think we showed a disappointing performance. I'm very disappointed with myself.

"I always imagined myself playing with my brothers while watching them from the sidelines at the Qatar World Cup. I'll keep the jersey from today's trial for the rest of my life

The Oh Hyeon-gyu of Celtic has become stronger than the Oh Hyeon-gyu of Suwon Samsung. My performance at Celtic came out as confidence in the national team


I faced a lot of physical European defenders. I feel that I have become stronger by not avoiding them and facing them stronger.

"I think I am stronger and more aggressive in the box than Cho Gue-sung and Hwang Ui-jo

 

I think ....now remember when I said this guys.... I think this guy could be a * tank in our team and when he gets games he will blitz the net with goals

 

Got on for the last 20 minutes today and a goal offside

 

OH what a shame that was offside

Cracking goal