KIERAN TIERNEY is his “own worst enemy,” according to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
The 28-year-old Scotland international left-back returned to the champions in the summer following his record £25million move to Arsenal in August 2019.
Tierney made his second debut in the 1-0 win in the Premiership opener against St Mirren and played 65 minutes before being replaced by Auston Trusty in 65 minutes in a pre-arrange substitution.
The fans’ favourite played 67 minutes in the 2-0 triumph over Aberdeen at Pittodrie last weekend before the identical player switch with the USA defender coming on to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers in the middle of the rearguard and Liam Scales taking over in the No.3 position.
COMEBACK BHOY…Kieran Tierney in action in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Rodgers is clearly delighted to have KT back at the club and the back-four operator’s game-time is being carefully monitored.
The Hoops boss said: “I just want to take it steady with Kieran because he’s full-on in training, his mentality is unbelievable.
“You also have to consider he hasn’t played a lot over the last couple of years, so then just throwing him into every game for 90 minutes, that’s not really going to work for us.
“But I’ve been so pleased with how he has come in and how he’s settled. He’s getting between 60 and 70 minutes and just working on his fitness level.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “He understands it, he’s obviously got a great maturity to him now and he’s probably sensed that maybe he’s been his own worst enemy, because he is so committed and he is so full-on.
WELCOME HOME…Kieran Tierney meets the media. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
“But you can see his maturity as an experienced player now, in those moments where, if you’re doing six exercises and you take him out of the last one, he understands it better now, even though he’s inherently a guy who gives everything.
“It’s never 70 or 80 per cent. It’s always 100 per cent, but I’ve been so pleased to have him back and he’s showed up really well.”
Tierney is on stand-by to make his third comeback appearance when Celtic kick off the defence of their Premier Sports League Cup against Falkirk at Parkhead tonight.
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