Can Celtic move three points closer to securing a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title?
If the Hoops beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then Rangers are beaten by Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, the Celts will have rubber-stamped a record-equalling 55th Scottish top division title, as well as their 13th in just 14 seasons.
This is actually despite the fact the Bhoys have lost three of their last six Premiership games, having lost only two of the previous 46, most recently beaten 1-0 at St Johnstone last weekend, their first defeat against the side bottom of the table since November 2005.
So, as Brendan Rodgers’ side seek to get back to winning ways, with one eye on a Scottish Cup semi-final date with the Saints at Hampden on Easter Sunday, the boss should make changes to his starting lineup, unleashing his “on fire” wide-man.
Nicolas Kühn's season of two halves
Nicolas Kühn was absolutely outstanding during the first half of this season, very much on course to be named Celtic’s player of the season, with David Irvine of the National even suggesting he was being considered by Julian Nagelsmann for a call-up to the German national team.
However, he has not been able to sustain this form, as the table below outlines.
Appearances 25 19 Minutes 1,713 1,242 Goals 14 4 Minutes per goal 122 311 Assists 11 3
As shown, Kühn’s statistics have fallen off a cliff since New Year’s Day, scoring only twice in 15 outings since bagging a brace against St Mirren on 5 January.
The German has started each of the Hoops’ last eight fixtures, hooked at half-time at McDiarmid Park last Sunday, and we believe he should begin Saturday’s meeting with Killie on the bench, considering this major downturn in form.
The Celtic star who should replace Kuhn
Yang Hyun-jun was introduced as a substitute at the interval in Perth last weekend, replacing Kühn as part of a double alteration, but the South Korean deserves to be in from the start this time.
Yang joined Celtic from hometown club Gangwon FC for a reported fee of £2m two summers ago, but made very little impact in Glasgow until recently, as the table below outlines.
Appearances
45
16
Minutes
1,753
651
Goals
1
5
Minutes per goal
1,753
130
Assists
4
5
As laid out, since the turn of the year, Yang’s statistics have exponentially improved, scoring five times, most notably bagging a brace at St Mirren Park during a 5-2 victory, with Korean journalist Joel Kim describing his compatriot as “on fire”.
After this win in Paisley, Rodgers credited Yang’s girlfriend for his recent resurgence, telling the BBC that she has been in the country for “a little while”, adding that he’s had a chat with the translator and will do everything in his power to ensure she can stay for a bit longer.
When compared to Kühn, Yang is certainly the man in form, hence why the South Korean deserves to start against Kilmarnock on Saturday to see what he can do at the top end of the pitch in place of the faltering left-footed forward.
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