A global debut
On Thursday night, Yang Hyun-jun of Celtic made his international debut for South Korea in a friendly matchup against Wales. The K1 League team Gangwon FC signed the 21-year-old to a five-year contract over the summer. Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach, called him up to the Korea squad after he made five appearances for the Hoops and had previously represented his nation at the under-23 level. With five minutes remaining in the scoreless draw against Wales in Cardiff, Hyun-jun came off the bench to replace Lee Jae-Sung, earning his first senior international cap. Oh Hyeon-gyu, a Celtic teammate with five caps, was not deployed as a substitute. The likelihood of both players being selected for the Asian Cup in Celtic might be without their services for up to four weeks starting in January.
Palma dispute claims
New Celtic signing Luis Palma insists his dispute with the Honduras national team is over following a change in manager. The 23-year-old joined the Scottish champions from Greek side Aris after completing a £3.5m move in the final week of the transfer window. Palma did not feature for his country in the Gold Cup earlier this year after a reported “controversy” involving former coach Diego Vazquez. However, with Reinaldo Rueda taking over in August, Palma is back in the international fold and could feauture for Honduras in their CONCACAF Nations League fixtures against Jamaica on Saturday and Grenada on Wednesday. He told DiarioMas: “Very different and a pleasant topic, really. It is a very experienced coaching staff and we are going to work and learn many of them. I never walked away from the national team, I am the person who will never say no to the national team. Previously, it was due to technical decisions, I have to respect, now I am in a new process. I am a player who works for me, for my family, for the Honduran people and for the Honduran national team. A lot is expected of me and I hope to God that it turns out well for all of us.”
Lawwell UEFA role
Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell has been appointed as a Board Member and Vice Chairman of the European Club Association. He has served as a member of the ECA’s executive board since 2014 and was among the invites to the 30th ECA General Assembly in Germany this week. He said in a club statement: “It is an honour to be appointed into these new positions. It is crucial that the Club has a voice at the top of the game, and as we continually seek to strengthen and develop European football as a whole, I will also continue to do all I can to work in the best interests of both Celtic and Scottish football. I would like to thank ECA Chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and fellow Board members for giving me this opportunity.”
Jota’s Saudi exclusion
Former Celtic winger Jota faces being ‘excluded’ from the Al-Ittihad squad after the Saudi Pro League side snapped up another European star. Italian international Luiz Felipe has joined from Real Betis – Rangers’ Europa League rivals – which spells bad news for the ex-Hoops hero, according to reports in Saudi Arabia. Saudi clubs can only include up to eight foreigners in their squad, with Felipe’s arrival set to render Jota surplus to requirements. l-Riyadh sports journalist Hattan Al-Najjar wrote: “Jota will be excluded from the list of [Al Ittihad] professionals in the league, according to the new system.” Al-Ittihad spent £25m signing Jota from Celtic this summer but reports claim that the Portuguese star could be shipped out on loan, most likely to a another Saudi club.
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