Kieran Tierney’s Euros ended after a hamstring injury in Scotland’s second game against Switzerland. The Arsenal defender returned to the London club to begin his rehabilitation after the recurrence of the injury.
After spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad, Tierney was expected to be allowed to leave The Emirates on a permanent basis with a fee of £10m reported. The news, however, that he was injured will limit the potential suitors of the Scotland star.
Celtic are in the process of looking for a new left back to compete with Greg Taylor after Alexandro Bernabei was allowed to depart on loan back in March. Brendan Rodgers has said that he needs to strengthen this position and offer competition for Celtic’s No.3.
Tierney came through the ranks at Celtic and developed into a real star, driving down the left from defence and offering robustness in defence. After being handed his debut by Ronny Deila at Dens Park in 2015, KT became a stalwart in the first team, learning from and eventually replacing Emilio Izaguirre.
Earlier this month, Tierney spoke about the prospect of a sensational return to Celtic, saying that he would only do so if he felt in the same condition as his first spell.
“I don’t regret it. I still miss it but I knew life would never be the same. I was living my dream. Being a footballer is the dream but playing for Celtic was the ultimate.
“I left that to go and challenge myself in the Premier League and come up against the best to see how I’d cope. If I go back, I want to be feeling how I did there before.
“I’ll be a different player to what I was, as I’ve been away for years, but I wouldn’t want to go back if I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent in my body. I know the intensity and the demand to win so, if I go back, it will be when I’m still feeling good.”
Tierney is unlikely to think that he is in the best state to return to Celtic. The player would no doubt be keen to make the return at some stage but he’ll be reluctant to do so unless he feels he can contribute. Joining after a recurring injury would mean the player could suffer further spells on the sideline.
Hopefully, he can get himself fit and the club can look at a deal but it looks unlikely this summer.
He has had his time.
No going back. His body is telling him that his best years are gone!