The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tierney eager to make up for lost time
Scotland defender Kieran Tierney admits realising he faced another lengthy injury lay-off with a dislocated shoulder was the most mentally challenging time of his life.
However, the Arsenal fullback is delighted to have come out of the other side after revealing his shoulder popped out three times in 10 minutes during the December 9 win over West Ham.
Tierney had an operation to mend the problem and was on the brink of a first team comeback before coronavirus led to a suspension of domestic football last week.
The 22-year-old, who underwent double hernia surgery last summer before he made his £25 million move from Celtic, is itching to make up for lost time after enduring a six-week wait to make his Gunners’ debut.
However, Tierney admits it was difficult at first having to get his head around the fact he would be spending more time in the treatment room.
Speaking to Sport Bible, he said: “Mentally it was probably the toughest time of my life. In my head I was thinking, ‘I need an operation now’. I knew.
“The night at West Ham away was a hard night for me with a dislocated shoulder in the first 10 minutes. And then another 10 minutes later I done the same thing again, I landed differently.
“It was heartbreaking because in my head I knew I needed an operation
“Then it was a set-piece and my arm just went into a position where it wasn’t comfortable at all and dislocated.
“Three times in 10 minutes, nobody’s shoulder should be going like that. So in my head as I was lying down I was thinking, ‘That’s me out for another few months’.
“I knew that devastation straight away and I think you can see it on my face.
“Being injured at the start of my Arsenal career was hard.
“It’s the hardest part but when you get to the other side it’s the most rewarding part.”