Kieran Tierney

Sinisalo has also been hugely impressed by returning Kieran Tierney – and he reckons Celts have landed a player with serious Premier League talent



He said: “Keiran is obviously coming in with a lot of pedigree. He’s playing at big clubs, playing in the Premier League and knows what it’s all about at Celtic as well.

“He’s a brilliant footballer, first and foremost, you can see it daily in training. You can see why he’s played in the Premier League and won things here too.

“You see his mentality. It’s something young players can learn from, whether you are an outfield player or a goalkeeper, that’s what we are all trying to do.

 

KT’s mentality as a young player just breaking in was massive as an example for the rest of the team, him back as an experienced pro experienced at one of the elite level clubs, having experienced however shortly La Liga and that mentality of players over there is something that is understated a bit thinking about him returning.

Even at Arsenal he was highlighted as a standout as an example in training, off the pitch and how to conduct yourself in general right until the end when he was a bit part player there. For us though he’s far from bit part, he’ll raise the level around him, will demand the same off others.

Unsurprising Sinisalo’s already highlighted it.

 

For returning left-back Kieran Tierney, playing for Celtic once again has been six long years in the making.


The 28-year-old defender, who left his boyhood club for Arsenal back in 2019 for a club-record £25 million, sealed his return to Celtic last month, after nearly six years in North London.

"I just can't wait to get started," Tierney told Celtic TV. "I'm really looking forward to pre-season as well, to get games under my belt, to get to know everyone and get back in the system that we play here. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to everything. I'm not wishing one day away."

"It's amazing, it's the club that I love. Things happened in January, and (the move) might have happened then, so you're kind of looking forward to that. Then, it's the end of the season, so you're just not counting down, but you know it's coming, and you can't wait for it. You can't wait for the announcement to pull the strip back on.

"I'll be absolutely delighted when I finally do."

Since his 2019 departure, many Celtic players have come and gone, including household names that Tierney shared the pitch with, such as Mikael Lustig, Tom Rogic and, of course, the legendary captain Scott Brown.

Since the latter's exit from the club in 2021, Callum McGregor has assumed the role of captain with distinction. Despite having his fair share of doubters in the early days of his reign, the former Scotland stalwart has been a commanding leader in the middle of the park for Celtic.


In the eyes of his returning teammate Tierney, however, McGregor had the capabilities to succeed the iconic Brown. "I have always seen it from Callum," he said.

"From a young age, or when he played and I played together, he had that leadership quality. Some people have it, and others don't, but he's got it. I was always with the Scotland squad as well when he was there, so I could see it.

"Although I wasn't playing with him week in, week out, I could still see that he's got those leadership skills and what he's done for the club, he's an absolute legend. What he's won and how he drives the team on, and seeing it again now firsthand, is unbelievable.

"I think he's proved everyone right to be honest, with how well he's done and what he continues to do for the club."

 

Delighted to see him back on the pitch for us.

 

Only saw the first 35 mins or so but he looked in good shape. Pleasing to see.

 

What a difference maker he'll be for us. Think him and Jota will be wild.

 

A left side of Tierney and Maeda.

A right side of Johnston and Jota.

It would be the best combination of wingers and fullbacks we've had in decades.

 

HE could have made a fortune by going elsewhere.

But Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic was PRICELESS for Brendan Rodgers.

The Scotland defender has just made his second debut for the club against Portuguese outfit Estrela da Amadora.

And KT strolled through 45 minutes as he marked his comeback to his bhoyhood heroes.

Rodgers was thrilled to see him back in action after six years at Arsenal.

And he has told how the deal only happened because the 28 year-old was prepared to forego a massive pay-day.

Manchester United and Juventus were just two of the clubs who were interested in snapping him up.

But Tierney ignored the mega-money on offer to put pens to paper at Parkhead.

Rodgers said: “I think in isolation, Kieran coming back is brilliant for the team.

“Make no doubt about it, Kieran has sacrificed to come back here in a financial way because he's really wanted to come back.

“But to have that player of the quality and experience that he has now, it's going to be really big for us.

“We want to make strides in European football so to bring that level of player in will certainly help us to do that.

“But I think it tells you everything about what he missed and that feeling that he missed when he left.

“I know the clubs involved because I was part of the process in bringing him back so I know where he could've gone.

“But this always felt the right place for him when we spoke months ago.

“I'm really happy for him.

“He's not even at his peak age yet, he's still got a lot of years left in him and hopefully we'll have them here at Celtic which I know he's really excited about.”

Some fear KT doesn’t have the physicality these days to play every week.

They point to various injuries he’s had down the years as evidence that he could struggle at the latter end of his career.

Rodgers insists he WILL need to manage the 28 year-old.

But he’s still convinced Tierney is approaching the PEAK of his career in the coming years.

He added: “Listen, there are certain players that will break.

“We had to look at that closely because it has to be more than the emotional side.

“The last few years, he's been unfortunate as well with some of the injuries he has picked up.

“We feel with the management, with him and with how we work, we can keep him fit for as long as we possibly can.

“He doesn't need to be available for every single game.

“It's important that, to have a successful season, we need to have a really good squad that we can rotate and that includes him.

“I think it's just great to have him back. He's in his way through the gears and we know that a fully fit Kieran is a massive boost for us.”

Rodgers has a tight bond with Tierney.

Their close relationship helped make the deal happen with the Celts boss taking time out of his summer holiday to meet up with him and put his mind at rest ahead of his return to the club.

He added: “I’ve been in contact with him throughout the months.

“When I knew he was going out there for a few days before meeting up with Scotland, we arranged to meet up.

“I tend to do that.

“I met with Callum as well. It's nice to reassure him.

“I know what that feeling's like having been somewhere and coming back and the wonder of what it might be like and feel like.

“But it's not really until you're back here that you really sense it.

“That's probably what it's like for him. It's probably a little bit strange initially but once he gets to Celtic Park, he'll feel really at home again.”

Tierney only played 45 minutes against Estrela at Benfica’s training complex.

But that was always the plan.

Rodgers was reluctant to ask too much of the Scotland defender given he only started training again last weekend.

The defender didn’t make many roving runs forward and didn’t step infield either, like Greg Taylor did.

But it’s early days and once he gets his full fitness back, he’ll be desperate to pick up from where he left off when he joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

Rodgers added: “It was like Kieran had never been away really.

“We know his strengths, we know his qualities and we know he's going to be a big plus for us.

“I think those guys who came in are a week or so behind.

“In that space, you're maybe ten sessions short of the other players.

“But that will come, that will take time.

“But you can see from the 45 minutes that he's still in a good place and building fitness which is what pre-season is all about.”