BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed that he wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if Celtic were to receive a megabucks offer for Celtic’s captain in waiting Kieran Tierney.
Tierney captained a young Celtic side last Tuesday in the 5-0 Betred Cup victory over Kilmarnock. He played in central defence rather than his usual left full back role and scored with a spectacular long range effort that will be a contender for goal of the season.
KT has also played at right back for Scotland, where he is an automatic first choice for Gordon Strachan.
On Friday evening at Firhill Tierney was Celtic’s best player and principal attacking threat playing almost as a left winger in the first half in particular.
Indeed Thistle altered their shape and tactics in the second half to try to null the threat Tierney was posing and this certainly knocked Celtic off their stride.
Not since Danny McGrain has Celtic or indeed Scotland had such s world class full back and you would have to go back to the late, great Tommy Gemmell to recall a Celtic fullback who could strike shots so effective as KT did on Tuesday.
Tierney doesn’t have a song all to himself from the Celtic support, he has two or possibly three.
Rodgers’ decision to give him the armband on Tuesday maps out the strategy the club has for holding on to their most prized asset.
Tierney could walk into ANY side in England and probably most if not all the big name clubs on the continent.
Rodgers recognising this is mindful that one such club could come calling at any point.
“I’m not worried, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Rodgers said. “I’m not worried because he loves being here, he knows he’s developing, he’s a sensible boy. He is developing into a top class young player.
“He’s still got improvements that he will make. I don’t get a sense from him other than he’s in a good place, in a happy place. He genuinely actually loves playing for the club and there are very few players like that nowadays. Players love football but they don’t necessarily love the club. Kieran Tierney loves football – and he loves Celtic.
“I think it helps that he’s an absolute Celtic daft. There is a different feel when you play for the club you support.
“Listen, there may come a time when you are that good and you are young, with so much potential, there is always that danger [of a bid]but we will cross that bridge when it comes to it. I don’t think there’s a chance of it imminently, but you always have to be ready because with a top young player like that there’s always the possibility.”
KT has also admitted to pestering his best mate Paddy Roberts a few times every day to encourage the next Celtic Number 7 to get back up the road. Hopefully we will discover just how successful he has been in that task shortly!
*The new edition of the CQN Podcast will be available this evening. Meanwhile he is the current Podcast incase you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, it is very good!
