Breakout Celtic star has earned his manager's 'trust'

The 24-year-old winger was instrumental in Celtic's 5-1 victory against Kilmarnock on Sunday. Despite competition from Haissem Hassan set to arrive and the nearing return of Jota from injury, Maloney believes Yang will remain a key player for manager Martin O’Neill.

The assistant manager said: "Yang took that right-wing position by the scruff of the neck last year and went to another level. He’s always been that sort of quite a good player or impact player at the club.

"But last year he went, ‘I want to be an important player’."

Yang netted 10 goals and contributed three assists last season, with memorable goals against Rangers, Hearts, and Feyenoord.

Maloney attributes the South Korean's off-the-ball dedication as a factor in earning the trust of the manager and teammates. Maloney said: "Not every winger will have an amazing game attacking-wise all the time.

"But if you give that other side of the game to your teammates, you will find yourself in the team for big occasions. He earned the manager’s trust.

"He’s got an unbelievable work-rate and is also brilliant without the ball."

Maloney, a former Celtic winger, revealed that Yang impressed from the first sessions after the current management team arrived last autumn. He added: "He started to come on as a sub for Martin and had a really good impact. And then he was off and running."

Maloney compared Yang's standards to those set by Daizen Maeda, who became a standout performer through his relentless pressing and defensive contribution.