Celtic rely on Scales as O'Neill braces for Yang's Asian Games exit

Celtic overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat St Mirren 2-1 at the Paisley ground, with South Korean winger Yang Hyun-jun scoring the winner. Liam Scales' header levelled the tie, and Martin O'Neill warned the team will miss Yang’s talent in upcoming fixtures.

Saints opened the scoring midway through the first half when Nikolas Agrafiotis converted a penalty after a handball by Liam Scales. Six minutes after the interval Scales headed the equaliser, and midway through the second half Yang, the 24-year-old, finished a rapid breakaway to secure the win.

Asian Games call‑up and its impact

O'Neill said, "We are going to miss him. He’s in really fine form at the moment," adding that Yang may have to complete national service if South Korea do not win the tournament. He praised the winger’s work ethic, noting he "doesn't mind doing the hard graft".

Yang will now fly to Japan for the Asian Games and miss Celtic’s next four matches – the mid‑week trip to St Johnstone, two games against Rangers and the Europa League opener against Ferencvaros. The club therefore lose a key player for a crucial period of the season.

The match also featured two VAR controversies, with two Celtic goals ruled out for off‑side and officials struggling with headset and line‑display accuracy. O'Neill remarked, "You cannot celebrate any more until these things are fully decided," before expressing relief at the eventual victory.

League momentum and reactions

St Mirren head coach Craig McLeish praised his side’s possession‑based approach but admitted frustration when Celtic’s defence became loose, leading to both goals. He highlighted the team’s bravery despite falling behind.

Celtic’s win marked their fifth straight triumph, extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to five points. Captain Callum McGregor said, "Yang is a really important part of the team. He’s a big player to miss, but obviously we wish him the best at the Asian Games."