Oh Hyeon-gyu has something to prove in Peru, El Salvador friendlies

Celtic forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, who spent the 2022 Qatar World Cup on the reserves list, is keen to prove what he has to offer in Korea’s upcoming friendlies against Peru and El Salvador.

Oh Hyeon-gyu speaks to reporters at Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Celtic forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, who spent the 2022 Qatar World Cup on the reserves list, is keen to prove what he has to offer in Korea’s upcoming friendlies against Peru and El Salvador.

“I don’t know about playing time, but whether I am given one minute or 90 minutes, I will do my best,” Oh said during an interview on the sidelines of national team training at Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan on Tuesday. “What I can do better than other senior players is show a more powerful and threatening performance inside the penalty box."

Whether Oh will start with or over Hwang Ui-jo of FC Seoul and Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the upcoming friendlies remains to be seen, as they have been on solid form. Cho scored a brace against Gangwon FC in the K League on Sunday and Hwang managed a goal against the Pohang Steelers on the same day.

This month’s friendlies are more important than the previous March friendlies, not only for Oh, but for all the selected players, as Jurgen Klinsmann is starting to think about his starting XI for the Qatar Asian Cup in January next year.

“I travelled to Qatar for the World Cup, but I could not play,” Oh said. “I was so desperate to play and I know all the stadiums. I'm really sad that I could not play and still have that hunger. It is a feeling that only those that went to the stadium know.

“I think I am more desperate. I want to make those dream moments if I can go to the Asian Cup.”

Oh has been in good form since joining Celtic in January, picking up seven goals with Celtic in the 2022-23 season, including two in the club’s last league game against Aberdeen on May 27.

The Celtic forward also played in the two friendlies in March, when Klinsmann made his debut with the Taeguk Warriors. He displayed a solid performance during those two games, although he did not manage a goal, creating a few goal-scoring chances against Uruguay including a goal that was ruled offside.

Oh Hyeon-gyu, center, shoots during a friendly between Korea and Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on March 28. [YONHAP]

Oh may have a bigger role this time in the friendly with Peru on Friday, as captain Son Heung-min’s availability remains unclear as he underwent surgery on a hernia two weeks ago.

The match against Peru kicks off at Busan Asiad Main Stadium in Busan at 8 p.m. on Friday. Another friendly with El Salvador will take place at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon on Tuesday next week.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]