We just can’t get enough

OLD FIRM COUNTDOWN Tierney: I’m proud to follow in legend’s footsteps but Tommy scored 63 goals and I’ll be lucky to have 63 shots in my career

KIERAN TIERNEY last night insisted there can’t be enough Old Firm games in the one season.

The Glasgow rivals will face each other six times by the end of the season but young Celtic full back Tierney admits he’ll never get tired of facing Rangers – particularly after missing out on the last clash at Ibrox through injury.

The pair meet at Parkhead on Sunday, before clashing in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday, April 23, and they’ll play their sixth match of the campaign at Ibrox after the league split.

But Tierney believes the more the merrier and said: “There’s not too many. It’s the game everyone looks forward to, but any match for Celtic I look forward to.

“I’m up for every single game, no more than every other game. I like every single minute on the park. I give my all.”

The left back was in with the Celtic support for the Hogmanay fixture at Ibrox and admitted it was an unforgettable experience.

He added: “I just went in with the crowd. It was some day for us.

“I was gutted – you don’t like missing any games – but the boys did well and it was a memory that I’ll never forget. It was a great day. It was just like being younger going to the games with my dad and my family.

“You don’t realise how much you want to play for Celtic until you are injured. I wanted to play for Celtic with my full heart but having that couple of months out just makes you appreciate it so much more.”

Ibrox forward Martyn Waghorn claimed that his side were the team most likely to end Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record.

But Tierney remained diplomatic and said: “He has his opinion but it’s just down to us to train hard every day, 100 per cent, and get better every day in training. When it comes to the game we’ll be prepared.” KIERAN TIERNEY has walked the same streets and paths as Tommy Gemmell – now he’s following in the footsteps of the Lisbon Lion by being Celtic’s attacking left-back.

And, for the rest of his days as a footballer, the youngster insists Gemmell will act as an inspiration.

The passing of the Parkhead legend last week is still raw at the club with scarves and messages tied to the railings right outside the main entrance of Celtic Park in tribute.

And although Tierney didn’t meet the Hoops great, he didn’t have to.

Gemmell’s aura and standing as a club hero will live through the ages and was already stamped onto the kid’s mindset through family yarns from the moment he started out in the game, having grown up in Lanarkshire.

Tierney said: “Tommy was from around my area. He grew up just across the bridge from where I’m from.

“Everybody around my area is sad about his death. It’s not just Celtic fans, it’s Scottish football fans overall. It just shows how much of a legend he was. “He was a great full-back and is a legend at this club.

“Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet him but I know what he was all about. I know how important he is to this club and he’ll be a hero here forever.

“I grew up listening to my dad and others in my family talking about Tommy and it meant a lot to me as he was a left-back. When you think about what he did for the club and the goals he scored as a full-back, it’s amazing.

“I think about how he scored in the big games as a full-back, it’s something that’s just very special.

“He got 63 goals for Celtic. If I got 63 shots from left back I’d be happy!

“That Lisbon Lions team is what the club are all about. This year is important given it’s their 50th anniversary.

“What they’ve done will live on forever. In 100 years or even 200 years they’ll always be there for what they did because it’ll never be done again.

“They’re top class people and, when I see any of them around the stadium or training ground, you feel motivated even just by speaking to them for a couple of minutes.

“You always feel better after it. John Clark is our kitman and although he doesn’t talk too much football it’s still great to have him around.”

While Tierney and his team-mates may never scale the same heights in Europe, the current squad are doing their level best to emulate some of the domestic success. The Lions were responsible for two of the club’s three Treble wins and Rodgers’s men can add their name to the list this term.

Tierney, though, won’t even discuss it. Can’t even contemplate it.

Kolo Toure suggested at the start of the season that being Invincibles was a possibility having achieved it during his time at Arsenal, but now it’s getting close, the squad won’t allow it to cloud their thinking.

Tierney said: “If anybody mentions that word ‘Invincibles’, you think that’d be well hard. Kolo has done it and he is

KIERAN TIERNEY

a brilliant player to have around the changing room.

“I learn a lot every day talking to him in the changing rooms.

“He’s always talking to me after games telling me what I can improve on and what I’ve done well.

“For him to say anything and with the experience he has he knows what he is talking about. He’s been there and done it all. He’s inspirational.

“It’s been a great season but there are still a lot of big games left.

“In terms of winning things, I don’t like talking about it too much in case I jinx anything.”

As far as Tierney and everyone else at the club is concerned it’s all about the next game.

Little wonder. Rangers visiting Parkhead on Sunday is enough to hold anyone’s attention.

Celtic are still unbeaten in their own country this term and the prospect of losing that record to their biggest rivals is not up for consideration.

Tierney said: “We don’t want to lose our unbeaten tag at all. It doesn’t matter who it is, we just don’t want to lose.

“Everybody knows what they are all about and we’re looking forward to it as always. We just focus on