KIERAN TIERNEY’S plans for a summer break to rest and recuperate after his Celtic comeback campaign could be scuppered.
And the 28-year-old Hoops fans’ favourite will not be complaining!
Brendan Rodgers has eased the defender back into his first team where the manager has also utilised on-loan Uruguayan Marcelo Saracchi in the No.3 role.
However, Tierney, who returned to Parkhead after a six-year absence at Arsenal, has plans to be actively involved between the end of the club season and the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign – a little matter of the World Cup Finals.
ON THE RUN…Kieran Tierney darts between two Greek players during Scotland’s 3-1 World Cup qualifying win at Hampden.
The left-back made a 15-minute cameo role in the dramatic 3-1 qualifying win over Greece at Hampden on Thursday evening when he replaced ex-Celt Ryan Christie just three minutes after Lewis Ferguson had thumped the Scots into a 2-1 lead.
Tierney’s experience helped kill off a frantic bid by the Greeks who had seen their 64th-minute lead from Konstantinos Tsinikas wiped out by Christie’s leveller only moments afterwards.
Lyndon Dykes made certain of the points when he swooped on a goalkeeping error to fire in the third in stoppage-time.
The Scots are now on the brink of at least a play-off place in their attempt to participate in the global extravaganza for the first time since Craig Brown led the country to France in 1998.
BIG NOISE…Kieran Tierney walks away as Lyndon Dykes and John McGinn congratulate Lewis Ferguson on netting Scotland’s second goal against Greece.
Tierney will again be in the matchday squad for tomorrow night’s Hampden confrontation against pointless Belarus who were blitzed 6-0 by Denmark during the week.
A victory is a must for the hosts who are level with the Danes on seven points in Group C although Kasper Schmeichel and Co have a superior goal difference of five.
Depending on the result in Glasgow, Greece’s campaign could be over if they lose in Copenhagen later in the evening – Scotland kick-off at 5pm with the game in the Danish capital due at 7.45pm.
It could all come down to the encounter between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden on Tuesday, November 18.
The Scottish Cup Final is scheduled for May 23 with the World Cup, which will be played the USA, Canada and Mexico, due to kick off on June 11 with the showpiece finale due on July 19.
It’s unlikely Tierney will be looking out the suntan oil any time soon.
