For quite some time, Scotland had failed to produce a high calibre star who would have taken the football fraternity by storm, until Kieran Tierney rose up to the stage. The 19-year-old might not possess the looks of a marauding defender, but he does have all the attributes needed to be in a class of his own. At the onset, it is indeed relishing to see Celtic really backing Tierney, for he is undoubtedly the one to be the face of this beautiful game in the not so distant future.
Caught in the scenario where Moussa Dembele is grabbing all the headlines of the major dailies owing to his ruthless goal-scoring nick, Tierney has emerged quickly through the ranks of the Bhoys. As a matter of fact, the talented youngster has dispossessed the club’s veteran servant, Emilio Izaguirre, from his role and has made the left-back slot his very own. Time and again, he has put his quality on the tray and has shown that his tremendous rise has been no fluke.
The Scot isn’t an orthodox one-dimensional left-back who would ideally sit back and absorb the pressure from the opponents’ attacking endeavours. Rather, he is a complete modern-day full-back blessed with the ability to cater to his side’s offensive as well as defensive requirements meticulously. Ever since his debut, he has looked unfazed, standing up to make full use of the opportunities and became an instant hit under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers.
He keeps the opposition in check, drives the team forward down the left flank, brings the midfielders into the equation and delivers jaw-dropping crosses into the box where poachers like Dembele and Leigh Griffiths show their predatory instincts. It is astonishing to see such a young prodigy being so calm and reliable all the time who barely puts a foot wrong. Moreover, he makes shrewd tackles, clears the ball well and breaks the counter-attacks which he faces with relative ease.
It isn’t surprising to see him getting linked with Premier League heavyweights, Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has always been an admirer of young talents and his latest interest in this Scottish sensation makes perfect sense.
The sporadic form of Kieran Gibbs and the dire need to possess a long-term replacement for Nacho Monreal has driven the Frenchman all the way to the Ladbrokes Premiership. But then, it would be an utterly foolish act from the Celts to let Tierney leave Celtic Park in the summer transfer window.
Make no mistake, Rodgers is assembling a team which can impose a serious challenge to the other outfits in the Champions League and should they lose their grip over Tierney, they would have huge shoes to fill. The renowned European sides would break their banks to lure the Scottish international in their ranks but given his age, he still has lots to achieve with the Scottish side. The time to move on hasn’t arrived yet.
