‘TIERNEY CAN BE SCOTLAND CAPTAIN FOR NEXT DECADE’

MALKY MACKAY last night tipped Kieran Tierney to win 100 caps for Scotland and captain the national team for a decade. The Celtic left-back wore the skipper’s armband for the first time, deputising for the injured Scott Brown in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands at Pittodrie. Brown’s long-term international future remains unclear following Gordon Strachan’s departure as manager. Claiming the next manager already has a ready-made replacement at hand, however, interim boss Mackay

tipped Tierney to become a Scotland icon. ‘I think Kieran can be captain for Scotland for ten years,’ said the SFA performance director. ‘I think he can captain his club eventually, but he could be Scotland captain for years. I saw that on Thursday night. ‘He played left-side centreback against top players and he was just so calm. ‘He carried the ball out, defended well and will get better in terms of his talking. ‘I had no doubts the minute Scott Brown got injured that he would be captain on Thursday night. ‘If he stays injury-free and keeps to the progression that I have seen in the last couple of years, then — without a doubt — he can win over 100 caps. ‘He has an attitude to die for. His mentality is the same. ‘I asked him to play out of position at left-side centreback. He immediately said “of course”. ‘I asked him if he fancied captaining his country? ‘You could see him smile ear to ear and again he said “of course”.’ Mackay’s tenure as Scotland boss is effectively over after SFA chief executive Stewart Regan publicly ruled him out of the running for the manager’s job. Predicting a bright crop of young talent for whoever takes charge, however — Northern Ireland’s Michael O’Neill remains the top target — Mackay added: ‘I looked at a couple of others on Thursday night. I thought Ryan Christie was sensational. ‘His intelligence coming in to certain areas was amazing. He caused Holland problems. ‘The way he dances across the floor was exceptional. John McGinn was another one. ‘He wasn’t starting the game but comes in and ends up man of the match. He was playing in there against Kevin Strootman, one of the best players in the world. We have players who have got a chance.’