Celtic’s forgotten striker: Where Should he go?

The striking position at Celtic has been a fascinating side story in Brendan Rodgers’ rollercoaster campaign thus far.

The sole striker situation has changed dramatically this season, with Kyogo Furuhashi signing a long-term deal in the summer and Adam Idah joining from Norwich City on deadline day in February. Kyogo currently holds the ‘yellow jersey’ for leading the line, having scored two goals in as many games. Prior to this, his fellow striker Idah was preferred over him, scoring against Motherwell and Dundee before going scoreless against Hearts at Tynecastle and Livingston at home, a game in which Kyogo scored.

With the constant battle between the two for striking supremacy at the club, you’d be forgiven for thinking Celtic only have two strikers on their roster right now, but this is not true. Indeed, South Korea’s Oh Hyeon-gyu, who was signed by Ange Postecoglou from K1 League side Suwon Samsung Bluewings in January, is still fit and available for selection, despite finding the selection process difficult in recent weeks and months.

Oh was brought in to replace the departing Giorgos Giakoumakis, who is now an MLS All-Star with Atlanta United FC, but he has struggled to make a consistent impact at the club since his continental shift from Asia to Europe nearly 14 months ago. 12 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions is not a bad record, especially for a 22-year-old in unfamiliar surroundings, but it does not tell the full story about the young forward.

Since Idah’s arrival and his return from Asia Cup duty with South Korea, Oh has played just 25 minutes of football in all competitions, totaling only two appearances since February 11. His last appearance was a 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock on February 17, and he has made three benches and missed two matchday squads since then.

To make matters worse, South Korea’s caretaker manager, Hwang Sun-hong, who replaced the recently fired Jurgen Klinsmann, failed to call up the striker to his squad for the World Cup qualifying match against Thailand, capping off a disappointing few months for the young forward. The question is, where does Oh stand in the short, medium, and long term of his Celtic career?

The truth is that his manager, Rodgers, has not trusted him enough to start him on a long-term basis. Oh has only appeared in three lineups since the beginning of the season, making him a bit-part player for the majority of his first full year at the club, which was exacerbated by Idah’s mid-season arrival. Prior to this, Kyogo started almost every game in place of the South Korean, indicating that he was only a second or third choice under Rodgers.

The Idah situation is intriguing, especially given that the Irishman’s loan with Norwich did not include a buyout clause. His immediate impact on the squad has been positive, but questions remain about his long-term future, including whether it will be with Celtic. The in-form Kyogo will still have three years left on his contract when the summer arrives. At 29 years old, the striker may have missed out on a move down south or elsewhere in Europe, and he may be content with his position as Celtic’s star player. His recent form suggests that this may be true for Kyogo.

Seven years his junior, Oh may want to wait for his next sustained opportunity as Celtic’s first-choice talisman. Time is on his side right now. However, he may improve his chances by seeking a temporary solution outside of the club, such as a loan deal. Perhaps a loan to a Scottish Premiership club in the upcoming summer transfer window will suffice for the striker?

There is no doubt that Oh could perform well for a domestic club like Aberdeen, Hearts, or Hibs. After all, he scored against each of these teams while playing for his current club. Indeed, a change of scenery and surroundings during the summer may be beneficial to the forward. Just look at Ryan Christie, Liam Scales, Bosun Lawal, and Mikey Johnston recently. This mutual temporary agreement between the player and the parent club can sometimes be instrumental in the former’s development.

When it comes to the South Korean regular, he is a good finisher with both his feet and his head, and there is talent to develop. Oh has good upper-body strength and decent pace for a big man, so he has a lot going for him, even if he has yet to make that big breakthrough at his first European club. He still has time on his side, as his current contract expires in the summer of 2028, which will motivate him despite his current struggles.

At this point, however, Oh is further away from the coveted first-choice striking position than he has ever been. Aside from a horrendous injury run from now until the end of the domestic season, he will have to settle for third place in Celtic’s goal-scoring rankings. This is not an ideal situation for a player who needs to gain game experience. With time running out on this campaign, it appears that his impact for the remainder of the season will be minimal, if at all.

For Celtic’s forgotten striker, all roads lead to the summer, when he will decide whether to continue his career at his current club or move on. In any case, this is a situation that must be resolved for the sake of the player’s career and the club’s overall striking prospects.

In other news, Celtic’s Transfer Dilemma: The Pursuit of Hugo Bueno