Versatile Tierney delighted to take on new challenges

Kieran Tierney showed again that he has more than one string to his bow in Scotland’s tumultuous 2-2 draw with England at Hampden Park on Saturday.

The Celtic left-back was moved to right-back for the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Slovenia at the national stadium in March.

As manager Gordon Strachan tried a different approach against the unbeaten Group F pace-setters, the 20-year-old was asked to play in a back three alongside Charlie Mulgrew and Christophe Berra as they squared up to Premier League top scorer and England captain Harry Kane.

Tierney turned in a fine performance, including a goal-line clearance to deny the Three Lions’ skipper, who eventually popped up with an injury-time leveller, after two Leigh Griffiths free-kicks has overturned an Alex OxladeChamberlain strike.

“I tried to do my best,” he said.

“Being told you are playing centre-back and you have not done it too many times, it is obviously hard. But it is something I enjoy.

“It was a new challenge, just like the last time when I was right-back.

“I like new challenges so it was good.

“The last five minutes was a roller coaster, obviously Griff’s great two free-kicks and the sucker punch at the end which left us gutted.

“But I think we can be proud of the effort we put in.”

Tierney admitted the immediate aftermath felt like the Scots had suffered a defeat but conceded that time may lend a different interpretation to a result which kept Scotland six points behind group leaders England, three behind Slovenia and four behind Slovakia, with four fixtures remaining.

“I hope it is the case because the boys put everything into it,” he said.

“We trained all week and everyone in the squad gave 100% against England, so it was good that way.

“We will get on with it and look forward to the remaining games in the group.”

Kieran Tierney gets his pass away as England’s Dele Alli closes in during Saturday’s game at Hampden.