OH Hyeon-gyu needed a bit of help from Joe Hart when he was shoved forward to lead the celebrations after helping fire Celts into the Scottish Cup last eight.
But the frontman revealed the big keeper is showing him the ropes with more than just the post-match party after strict instructions from Korean superstar Son Heung-min. Hart and Son were teammates at Spurs and the EPL ace was on to his old pal to make sure Celtic’s new recruit was being well looked after in Scotland.
Oh admitted Hart is keeping his word and the 21-year-old is already feeling right at home in Glasgow. The January arrival is still building fitness but came off the bench to grab his first goal for the Hoops in the 5-1 cup win over St Mirren. Oh looked the part but he was more sheepish when he was sent over to salute the punters for the traditional group salute. It was just as well Son had set up a father figure for the frontman at Celts.
Oh said: “Joe Hart was a teammate of Son at Spurs and he’s told me that they’d spoken on the phone and Son told him to look after me! He’s been great, he’s been helping me settle in.
“I have spoken to a few of the Korean players who are playing in the UK, guys like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan at Wolves. They haven’t given me advice as such, but they have told me what the game is like over here and what to expect. They contacted me first and asked me how my life was. I am grateful that Heung-min and Hee-chan hyung got in touch and it gave me great strength.”
Oh was thrilled to get off the mark – especially with a handful of fans from his homeland making their way to Celtic Park to watch their hero. The former Suwon Bluewings star said: “There were some fans from Korea who came over to watch the game at Celtic Park. There are not many Koreans living here so it’s great if there are some who are here to see me.
“It’s nice to have that support and I was pleased they managed to see me score a goal. The important thing was we managed to win the game but it was good to get the goal as well.”
Oh is being carefully managed by boss Ange Postecoglou as he builds fitness and has only made a handful of sub appearances so far. But Hoops fans like what they see with the striker.
It’s early days but he looks big and strong, he’s not scared to get stuck in and clearly has an eye for a goal as he quickly pounced to open his account late on in Saturday night’s show of power against the Saints. Oh has been blown away by his new surroundings – and the fact the fans are already chanting his name.
He said: “I was so happy to hear the fans singing, so happy to hear that they already have a song for me with my last name. My aim now is to try my best to make sure our fans can sing that song very often. That would be wonderful.
“I’m enjoying every day of my life in Glasgow because all the people have been so kind and friendly to me. The people here in Glasgow are so friendly that they always have fun every day.”
Oh knows there could be more fun to come with Celts now in to the last eight in the Scottish Cup, gearing up for the Viaplay Cup Final and streets ahead in the Premiership title race.
He said: “It’s a very exciting time and it is a privilege, a real honour, to play at such a great club like Celtic with such amazing team-mates. I will try to develop myself and contribute in this league, in the Cup Final and now a quarter-final, as well.”
Hoops boss Postecoglou was thrilled to see his new signing get off the mark so early in to life in Scotland. Oh has gradually build up the minute but is up and running after barely an hour of gamete across four matches and his gaffer insisted there is far more to come.
Postecoglou said: “It’s important for him to get his first goal. For us coaches, we don’t think it’s the be all and end all. But for strikers, that’s the fuel they live on. To score at Celtic Park, in front of our fans, will be a massive motivator for him. He’s still got a long way to go – but the goal will further encourage him.”
Celtic fans might have expected to see Oh off the bench earlier on Saturday evening after Kyogo was forced off inside the opening quarter of an hour with a shoulder injury. It was Daizen Maeda who shifted into a more central role instead – and he scored within 90 seconds.
Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Liel Abada all impressed from the bench but while the gaffer has an array of talent, he insisted he's not concerned about keeping his players sweet. Postecoglou said: “I don’t get this. Everyone keeps saying I have to keep everyone happy.
"It’s not my role to keep anyone happy. Am I supposed to go around making them cups of tea or buy their wife some flowers?
“They should be happy with a smile on their face every day because they’re doing what they love and representing a fantastic football club. There’s always going to be competition for places and things change pretty quickly in football
“But the attitude of the guys has been great. When our subs come on the pitch, they’re not feeling sorry for themselves.”
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