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Celtic should axe Hyun-jun Yang vs LASK, this is why
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- Celtic should axe Hyun-jun Yang vs LASK, this is why
Martin O'Neill should keep Sebastian Tounekti in Celtic's starting eleven ahead of Hyun-jun Yang for their key clash against LASK this week.
There has been widespread debate about Celtic's left-wing spot in the absence of Portuguese winger Jota over the last 12 months.
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Tounekti arrived from Hammarby last summer to provide extra competition alongside Yang, with the pair sharing starting duties throughout 2025-26.
Yang ended last term as a regular in O'Neill's side, and has started both of the Hoops' Premiership matches since the new campaign began.
The South Korean winger sat out of Celtic's League Cup win against Dundee United on Saturday, with Tounekti impressing in his absence.
O'Neill now has a big decision to make as Yang returns to fitness ahead of Wednesday's huge UCL clash, but it is clear that Tounekti should be starting as he looks to finally go on a run of good form.
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Sebastian Tounekti should start over Hyun-jun Yang against LASK
Tounekti registered just five goals and three assists in 45 games last term, while Yang notched 10 goals and two assists in 47 matches.
It is easy to see why many fans would want Yang to be reinstated to the starting lineup in such a key game, but all the signs from Saturday point to Tounekti being ready to make an impact.
The Tunisian international registered two goal contributions in one game for just the second time for Celtic as he shone against Dundee United in their 4-0 cup win.
His last double contribution against Dundee in the FA Cup in February saw him go on to register an assist against Livingston and score against Kilmarnock in the Hoops' next two games.
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History shows that he just needs a run of starts after one impressive performance to keep impressing, and his showing against Dundee United was better than either of Yang's Premiership outings this month.
O'Neill would also surely be better served not risking Yang from the off against LASK, after he admitted that the winger was "very, very stiff" while missing two days of training last week.
Celtic work on signing Balasz Toth for cut-price fee What has Tounekti said about starting for Celtic?
Sources have revealed to Football Insiderthat Celtic want to sign Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth, but no new arrivals are expected before they face LASK on Wednesday night.
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O'Neill has already bolstered his squad's wide positions ahead of the clash, with tricky winger Haissem Hassan joining from Real Oviedo for £6m last week.
Hassan normally plays on the right as opposed to Tounekti on the left, but the Tunisian has admitted that new faces in the squad have only made him even keener to nail down a place in the starting eleven.
Speaking earlier this week, he said: "To me, it's a boost to have those players, also that you have to work hard to earn your space. That I will do. I will not complain or do anything. I know it's up to me. If I perform, it's a spot.
"I think also for me, as I spoke a little bit before when I came here, I think maybe I need a little bit of time to develop. I felt I had the season to do that behind me now, so I just feel like I'm ready now to help the team. I feel the trust from the manager and everyone."
