Celtic flop ends 312-day wait as former Aberdeen man puts new club on brink of top flight return

Yamada, 25, moved to Celtic Park in the summer from Kawasaki Frontale for a reported fee of £1.5million, but struggled to make an impression at the club, failing to score in his eight league appearances, and was allowed to join relegated-threatened Preussen Munster on a deal until the end of the season in January.

Used largely as a substitute since his arrival at the Preussenstadion, the Japanese striker hasn’t improved his side’s chances of avoiding relegation from the German second tier. Failing to score in his five previous appearances for the club, they sit bottom of the table and four points from safety with just four games remaining.

However, Yamada will be boosted going into this weekend’s huge relegation six-pointer against fellow strugglers Arminia Bielefeld after bagging his first goal since his strike for former club Kawasaki Frontale against Fukushima United 312 days ago, even if his goal made little difference to the scoreline.

Facing a tricky challenge against top of the table Schalke, Alois Schwartz’s side found themselves behind after 36 minutes, with former Aberdeen loanee Adil Aouchiche at the centre of the action. The former Sunderland playmaker worked the ball out to Dejan Ljubicic on the right, and his cross to the back post was met by captain Kenan Karaman with a fine header at the back post.

Die Konigsblauen doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Preussen Munster defender Jannis Heuer flicked a header into his own net following an excellent Aouchiche corner to hand Schalke a commanding lead going into the break. Aouchiche would then add a goal of his own when he finished with aplomb from 15 yards out following a quick counterattack, with Moussa Sylla tapping home a fourth shortly afterwards.

Introduced with just nine minutes remaining, Celtic loanee Yamada scored the final goal of the game just seconds after entering the field of play, connecting to Jano ter Horst’s outswinger to head home expertly beyond former Liverpool and Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius in the 82nd minute.

However, it was former Dons loanee Aouchiche who stole the show at the Veltins Arena, as Schalke went three points clear of Paderborn at the top of the league amid their quest to win the second-tier title and secure a return to the Bundesliga after a two-year absence.

Sign up to The Scotsman’s daily football newsletter to get unrivalled Scottish football news and analysis - subscribe for free here.