Korean star Ki to get early Hoops chance

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GLASGOW, Nov 27, 2009 (AFP) - South Korean star Ki Sung-Yong could be plunged into Celtic's Scottish Premier League title battle sooner than expected after the Hoops learned they will be without Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney through January.

Brown is to have further surgery on an injured ankle while Maloney needs more treatment for an Achilles problem and both players are two months away from playing, Celtic boss Tony Mowbray revealed on Friday.

Celtic will also lose Cameroon's Landry N'Guemo to the African Nations Cup in January while China captain Zheng Zhi will miss part of the month for an Asian Cup qualifier.

Mowbray said Ki would be arriving in Glasgow on Tuesday and would attend Celtic's Europa League clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv as well as undergoing a medical with a view to wrapping up what is expected to be a two-million-pound transfer from FC Seoul.

"He is 20-years-old," Mowbray said. "I watched him play in Denmark last week for South Korea and he's technically a good footballer.

"We obviously hope that he will make a big impact and he will be given an opportunity.

"But he is still a very young boy and he is coming halfway round the world to settle in Glasgow and we will see how he adapts to that.

"We have spoken about Scott and Shaun who will be missing for a fair period.

"Landry N'Guemo is going to go to the African Nations, we've got Zheng Zhi who has an Asian Cup qualifier in January and he will be away for a period as well.

"So we are not that overburdened with midfield players and as I've said, if the opportunity comes to bring some talent to the football club then you shouldn't pass it by."

Mowbray confirmed that Celtic are considering signing Honduras defender Osman Chavez, who has been training with the first-team squad this week.

"He's been with us a few days training and he's done okay," the manager said. "I've had a few conversations but he will be here for another week or so and then we will make a decision."

SPL leaders Rangers meanwhile look set to have Algeria's Madjid Bougherra in their side for the first time in two months at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Bougherra was left on the bench for the midweek Champions League defeat to Stuttgart after returning late from international duty for the third time this season.

His behaviour was criticised by his own team-mates but manager Walter Smith said the issue was in the past as far as he was concerned.

"That's all cleared up," he said. "He is back in the squad for tomorrow's game and he was in the squad for the game against Stuttgart the other night."

Bougherra put previous indiscretions down to his daughter having a kidney infection and then having his possessions, including his passport, stolen.

On this occasion however he admitted missing his flight back to Glasgow so he could celebrate Algeria qualifying for the World Cup.

A return for Bougherra at Pittodrie would likely come at the expense of 17-year-old Danny Wilson, who has excelled in the heart of defence alongside David Weir in the Algerian's absence.

"We are just delighted that we've found we have a young player who can come in and play for us," said Smith, who rubbished reports Bougherra could be sold to Tottenham in January.