Arne Engels is yet to miss a penalty for Celtic since he arrived in the summer.
So it would have been a surprise to see the Belgian taking a backseat against Motherwell this afternoon in his side’s 4-0 hammering of the Steelmen.
As it happened, when Yang was felled by goalkeeper Aston Oxborough inside the area, Engels was indeed the man to step up and slot home the opening goal before the floodgates opened after the break.
But there could conceivably have, for the first time in a while, been a discussion among the players as to who would take a spot-kick considering the Premier Sports Cup Final heroics from earlier this month.
A 3-3 draw with Rangers would go to penalties and the drama of the moment on the spot.
Celtic‘s stars scored all five of their efforts to win the trophy as they made Scottish football silverware history.
And Engels revealed the squad have all been practicing their strikes from 12-yards to ensure there are plenty of options for Brendan Rodgers to choose from.
So he was pleased to see another effort – his fifth goal of the season – to hit the net.
Arne Engels says Celtic have numerous penalty taker options
“No, I think everybody is training on it so everyone can take a penalty and I’m lucky I’m the one who can take it first,” Engels told Celtic TV.
“Everybody is really good in training and it’s always nice to score a goal like this.
“I think it’s really important to get a goal, especially at the end of the first-half, you come into the second-half with a bit of confidence as you’re 1-0 up.
“Then you’re a wee bit free in your mind that you’ve already got the goal.
“Then we created a lot of chances and we also defended really well as they didn’t have a shot on target. It’s really well done from the whole team.”
Celtic had four different scorers in their hammering of Motherwell
Engels hit the opener and the lead was doubled by a diving header from a flicked-on corner from Daizen Maeda.
Substitute Nicolas Kuhn – who was an injury doubt before the team was announced – made it 3-0.
Then Reo Hatate added a late strike from outside the area for four.
Celts now take their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 12 points with Rangers to play later this evening.
