Johnstone can’t believe ex-team-mate Tierney’s rise

St Johnstone forward Denny Johnstone admits he could never have foreseen the extraordinary progress of former Celtic youth-team colleague Kieran Tierney.

The pair will be reunited at Mcdiarmid Park on Saturday as Tierney looks to end another momentous week on a high.

Although his side lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, the left-back earned rave reviews for his performance up against Arjen Robben 24 hours after signing a new six-year deal.

The 20-year-old Scotland international is closing in on 100 first-team appearances, something Johnstone did not envisage happening three years after he left Celtic.

The striker said: “He was a couple of years younger but he was playing in the same matches in the European youth league at the time. He obviously had all the same attributes back then but I could never have imagined he would progress as much as he has done. Even watching the game on Tuesday night, it’s amazing to see how much he has come on.

“My last year there he was physically a lot less developed so seeing him now, he has obviously been working hard in the gym.

“Callum Mcgregor was in the same side and it’s nice to see these guys doing well. You want boys you played with growing up to go on and flourish.”