TIERNEY DOESN’T NEED TIPS FROM MASTER McGRAIN

DANNY McGRAIN says Kieran Tierney is so talented that the youngster hasn’t had to seek advice from the Celtic legend on swapping flanks as an international full-back. McGrain was a past master at making the switch, often having to operate on the left for Scotland to accommodate the equally gifted Sandy Jardine. Tierney, 20, is making the opposite journey across the pitch, and made an impressive debut at right-back in the March win over Slovenia. No one would be surprised if he was again asked to fill that role against England, enabling Andy Robertson to play in his regular position. The world-class McGrain made it look straightforward, but knows precisely what Tierney will be trying to perfect as he prepares for Saturday’s showdown. ‘I could say it was p**s easy but it wasn’t because (at first) I had no left foot,’ said McGrain. ‘So I had to work hard on it for two weeks. I don’t know if you are aware of it but when you hit the ball with your left foot, your right hand comes up. ‘But when I was hitting the ball with my left foot I hadn’t trained it to go anywhere. That’s what keeps your balance. You had to train, tell your brain what to do. ‘Of course it made me a better player. A two-footed full-back, there wasn’t many of us about. Maybe Tommy Gemmell! ‘Did I explain this to Kieran? He wouldn’t even talk to me, he is that good. It isn’t that Kieran doesn’t talk to me, he has enough people in the first-team squad, the coaching staff, telling him what to do. If they need any help they know I am there. But nobody has asked me.’ What makes Tierney all the more impressive to McGrain is that his talent is matched by a steadfast mentality. That will be underscored on Saturday when he dons a gumshield to protect the injury sustained in the Scottish Cup final. ‘He’s such a good player and such a nice guy,’ said McGrain. ‘His first year has just been sensational, so consistent. Consistency’s the stamp of a good player and that’s exactly what he produces for Celtic. ‘Kieran’s getting better and better and I can’t wait to see him in a couple of years. He’s a throwback. ‘Kieran plays in a style where the full-backs start from the half-way line. Mikael Lustig is outside-right and Kieran is outside-left, and they are very rarely back in their own box, except maybe if the other team break away from a corner.’ England will present a different kind of challenge to a regular Scottish Premiership fixture. ‘Kieran will be asked questions, every player in the Scotland team will have questions asked of them,’ said McGrain. ‘But hopefully we are good enough to answer them. I would take a good draw now.’