CELTIC-BOUND Kieran Tierney had to be content with a cameo role in the first leg of Scotland’s dramatic 1-0 UEFA Nations League play-off win over Greece in Piraeus last night.
The left-sided defender came on in the 76th minute for Kenny McLean as the visitors defended Scott McTominay’s penalty-kick opener in the 33rd minute.
Tierney settle in immediately in a role just in front of skipper Andy Robertson as the Scots managed to repel some furious raids by the home team.
AIR WE GO…Scott McTominay’s celebrates his match-winning penalty-kick against Greece.
Boss Steve Clarke explained why there was no starting slot for the experienced 27-year-old performer, who will rejoin the Hoops in the summer following a six-year absence at Arsenal.
Robertson was one booking away from an automatic ban which would have seen him miss the return at Hampden on Sunday evening and Tierney getting a place at No.3 at the kick-off.
Clarke, speaking to The Herald, said: “I was conscious of the fact Andy was on a yellow card and if he got a yellow on this occasion he could not play in the second game.
“So, if I started Kieran, who has not played very often for his club, and then he faced back-to-back games, it could have been an issue for us.”
Now Clarke has a puzzle to solve before the crucial weekend encounter: Does KT get a place in his starting line-up or does the manager continue with Norwich City’s McLean in front of Liverpool’s Robertson?
The champions’ Anthony Ralston played his role at right-back before being replaced in the 89th minute by Ryan Porteous.
