COMEBACK BHOY Kieran Tierney insists he “can’t sit and worry” as he prepares for his second stint as a Celtic player.
The former fans’ favourite will step onto Parkhead this afternoon for the first time in six years as a Hoops left-back in the encounter against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
The Scotland international defender is “buzzing” to be working with old boss Brendan Rodgers again as he prepares for a pivotal campaign in his career.
Stories of recurring injury problems have followed Tierney in recent years and the 28-year-old ace, who cost £25million when he joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019, is determined not allow himself to be distracted from the job at hand.
RETURN OF THE HERO…Kieran Tierney speaks to the media for the first time since his Celtic comeback after a six-year absence. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
Asked if he had concerns, Tierney answered: “No, nothing, I know how much I work professionally myself, on my body, on my recovery, being as ready as I can be for games.
“I’m not here to prove anything, I’m just here to do the best for Celtic and see where it goes.
“I know how much I focus on my body and doing everything I can to be in the best possible shape that I can be, so that’s all I can think about.
“I can’t sit and worry about what ifs or anything. I think what can I do just to be in the best condition that I can be in.
“It’s been great to be back and I feel part of the squad already. I am settling in well.
“There is some stuff that just feels the exact same. It almost feels like I have never been away.”
Tierney also admitted Rodgers will not be sidetracked by all the contract talk as the Irishman enters the third and final year of his Hoops deal.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney are all amiles first time around.
The energetic back-four operator, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I don’t think he’ll bother too much about the kind of outside noise.
“He’ll just get on with his job because he knows he’s got a job to do, and, as his players, we’ve got a job to do.
“We need to do it to the best of our ability and that takes hard work and commitment every single day, no days off and just being at it every day.
“I think with the captain that we’ve got, it’s perfect having Callum and the manager together. It’s a perfect combination.
“It’s amazing how much the manager actually works and what the effort he puts in.
“We saw the benefits of it the other night [in the 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon]. I think we played really well, some good passages of play against a top team.
“It just shows you how passionate he is that you can still see him shouting and wanting more. And I think you need that if you are going to win trophies, you need to be 100 per cent all the time.
THE WAY WE WERE…Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor discuss matters after a game in 2019. Johnny Hayes applauds the fans.
“Pre-season friendly, whether it’s Champions League qualifier, Scottish Cup, Premiership, you need to be on it every single day, even in training. You need to be on it and the manager makes sure that we are.
“He’s got that, it’s his drive.
“I’m buzzing to be back with the gaffer. I loved my time under him before. We were successful together. He got the best out of me and it’s a joy to work with and I’m delighted to be back with him.”
Looking ahead to this afternoon’s match against the Tyneside outfit, Tierney added: “I think always when there’s a Scottish-English team playing each other, the atmosphere is going to be good, there’s always going to be a bit of rivalry there.
“It’s a confidence builder, as well. But also it is important for the fitness side of things to get boys sharp and ready, give everyone minutes and give people a chance to impress.”
