Celtic to lose Oh to Asian Cup as striker included in South Korea squad

Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu has been named in the South Korea squad for the Asian Cup.

It means the striker will be unavailable for a handful of Celtic matches starting in January.

It's the same story for winger Yang Hyun-jun who has also been selected for his country.

Oh is one of only two strikers listed in the squad for the tournament in Qatar - alongside Cho Gue-sung - however, captain Son Heung-min can also play up front.

National team boss Jurgen Klinsmann is aiming to end a 64-year title drought for South Korea when the tournament kicks off on January 12.

[𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱] ⚡아시아 정상을 향해⚡ 2023 AFC 아시안컵에 참가하는 🇰🇷축구국가대표팀의 명단을 공개합니다! ✔2023 AFC 아시안컵 🇰🇷v🇧🇭#바레인 24.01.15(월) 20:30 🇰🇷v🇯🇴#요르단 24.01.20(토) 20:30 🇰🇷v🇲🇾#말레이시아 24.01.25(목) 20:30 ⏰한국시간 기준 📍카타르 pic.twitter.com/YD502IuJuR

— theKFA (@theKFA) December 28, 2023

South Korea will enter the competition finals in Group E meaning matches against Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain in the first round.

The first match for South Korea is against Malaysia on January 15, then Jordan on January 20 and finally Bahrain on January 25.

Should South Korea progress then Oh and Yang will be missing for Celtic for a longer period with the final of the competition scheduled for February 10.

However, even if South Korea exit in the first round - which appears unlikely - Oh and Yang will still likely miss matches against Buckie Thistle and Ross County next month.

---

Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab/KSA), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), Song Bum-keun (Shonan Bellmare/JPN)

Defenders: Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich/GER), Jung Seung-hyun (Ulsan), Kim Ju-sung (FC Seoul), Kim Ji-soo (Brentford/ENG), Seol Young-woo (Ulsan), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan), Lee Ki-je (Suwon), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk)

Midfielders: Park Yong-woo (Al Ain/UAE), Hwang In-beom (Red Star Belgrade/SRB), Hong Hyun-seok (Gent/BEL), Lee Soon-min (Gwangju), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz/GER), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Son Heung-min (Tottenham/ENG), Jeong Woo-yeong (Stuttgart/GER), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves/ENG), Moon Seon-min (Jeonbuk), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic/SCO)

Strikers: Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland/DEN), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Celtic/SCO)