BRENDAN Rodgers has hailed Yang Hung-jun and Luis Palma for the impact which they made in the emphatic 6-0 win over Aberdeen which restored Celtic’s eight point lead over Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership today.
Rodgers was missing Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda going into the league encounter with the Pittodrie club at Parkhead this afternoon – but Palma and Yang both performed superbly out wide and netted.
The former converted a spot kick in the second half after Oh Hyeon-gyu had been brought down by Jack McKenzie and his manager joked afterwards that the Honduran internationalist’s prowess from 12 yards out could be important this term.
“You look at the improvements to the two wingers today,” he said. “Sometimes you come into a club, especially as a winger, and you try to showboat.
“Look at Yang when he first came in, bless him. He either beat his man or gave it away. That’s not football. You have to beat your man of course, but when you can’t you have to serve the ball, get your positioning right, so you can see his development.
“His goal was a classic example of that. A winger getting to the second post and closing the game and getting his goal. He also had a great move where he came inside and made the pass to Matt O’Riley for our second goal.
“With Luis Palma, when he first came in everything was back. He has variety to his game now, he can go outside and cross, or cross with the outside of his foot because he is really good.
“If you look at his record, that’s what he does. Penalties are very important. Especially up here. So when you get them you want to finish them.”
Rodgers added: “You’ve got to create goals and score goals. That’s your job as a winger here. It’s not about looking a good player, you’ve got to be a good player.
“For a young guy that has come in from across the world he absolutely works his socks off. It’s great to see. He (Yang) is starting to grow and develop.”
Rodgers, whose team take on Motherwell at home in their first Premiership game after the international break on Saturday week, was also pleased with how Oh, David Turnbull, Tomoki Iwata and Liam Scales acquitted themselves.
“I thought those guys who came into the game did their bit,” he said. “Oh was terrific, he is getting better all the time. Just simplifying his game, setting the game up for us, being in the box when we cross it and running in behind and threatening the back line. I thought he did all of that and showed really good composure on his last goal.
“David Turnbull again was excellent. Dave is always good for a goal. He gets into the spaces and finished it really well. Tomoki came into the game as well and settled the game in midfield, gave us that energy and that bite that you want.
“I thought Liam Scales was outstanding today. I said to him yesterday, ‘You’re playing against your team mates, you know these guys, don’t try and dress it up and be too clever. Show how much you have developed and improved. I thought he was brilliant today.”
