KIERAN TIERNEY was Scotland’s Golden Shot as he fired the nation into the World Cup Finals with a spectacular stoppage-time goal in the 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden in November.
The Celtic defender, who had replaced Aaron Hickey with 18 minutes to go, launched No.3 behind Hoops team-mate Kasper Schmeichel to send the stadium into a frenzy of delight.
Three minutes into added-on time, with the scoreline standing at 2-2, the Danes were preparing to look out their passport for the soccer extravaganza in USA, Canada and Mexico.
A point at that stage was enough to condemn the Scots to the perils of a play-off cliffhanger.
And then KT drove forward before unleashing a curling effort that swept wide of Schmeichel’s searching fingers to his right.
SCOTLAND THE RAVE…Kieran Tierney celebrates his strike against Denmark that sent the Scots to the World Cup Finals.
Kenny McLean lobbed in a fourth with practically the last kick of the ball and it was a case of ‘World Cup here we come!’
Steve Clarke’s men will kick off their Group C fixtures with a match against Haiti in the early hours of Sunday June 14 in Boston before facing Morocco at the same venue five days later.
They wind up their section with an intriguing encounter against Brazil in Miami late on Wednesday June 24.
One man backing Tierney to play his part is Jackie McNamara who has been impressed by the player’s club form following his return to Parkhead after an absence of six years following his £25million switch to Arsenal.
The former Celtic captain said: “KT’s numbers have been excellent in terms of deliveries, assists and goals.
“Even the Scotland goal he scored against Denmark was impressive. I think he’s had a terrific season, especially with the pressure for him to come back at that point.
HAMPDEN ROAR…Steve Clarke yells in delight as Kieran Tierney and John McGinn celebrate the Celt’s wornder strike at the national stadium in November.
“Everybody had their expectations, the young kid that left to go to Arsenal was coming back and people maybe doubted his fitness levels and everything else.
“But his numbers show he’s handled it really well. I think Celtic have tried to manage his minutes, which you’re seeing more and more in the game now.
“When you play over 50 games a season, you’ve shown that your body can handle it.
“Now he’s going away to play a World Cup which is fabulous.”
McNamara was part of Craig Brown’s squad the last time Scotland played in the finals of the game’s most prestigious international competition in France in 1998.
He recalled: “Back then, I had picked up an injury, I played the last three four months with it at Celtic.
“We went on to win the league, but I would only play on the Saturday, I couldn’t train the full week.
“I had bad tendinitis then went to the World Cup. Afterwards, I came back and I ended up getting two operations on it.
“I was thinking at 25 my career was in doubt.
“But once you do things properly, the right rehab, and you manage how you come back and recover, I never looked back from that.”
TWO OF A KIND…Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney are roaring successes after Celtic’s crucial 3-2 triumph over Motherwell at Fir Park last month.
Reflecting on the safety net of five substitutes being allowed as opposed to three in his playing days, McNamara, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “A lot of the times this season Tierney hasn’t finished the games.
“He might have played 70 minutes and Celtic have changed the full-back. So, it’s totally different.
“At that point, it’s not like you’re thinking: ‘Right, oh God, he could break down after 20 minutes or 30 minutes’.
“It used to be more the attacking players who would be taken off, but now the number of subs you mean you can change half your team.”
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