CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Rodgers tips Tierney for new role
BRENDAN Rodgers believes Kieran Tierney can provide a solution to Scotland’s central-defensive crisis.
The coveted Celtic left-back occupied an unfamiliar role on the left side of a three-man defence in last month’s World Cup qualifying draw against England.
Heavily linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, the 20-year-old performed calmly at the heart of Gordon Strachan’s defence, and reprised the role when Dedryck Boyata limped from Celtic’s pre-season draw with Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
‘Kieran is a young boy I would like to develop to play different positions,’ said Rodgers.
‘I had Raheem Sterling and played him top of a diamond. I played him left side, played him as a striker. It gives them great value and confidence in their game.
‘They see the game from a different viewpoint and, when you look at Kieran, rather than being the stiff left-back who gets rid of the ball he is now cultured, can pass it and is quick in the recovery.
‘You can see he can leap because he has good power.
‘In international football and European football, you don’t need to be 6ft 3in to play centre-half. As long as you have a couple of guys that are dominant in the air he can step in and play and I thought he was excellent.’
Scotland manager Strachan is blessed with options at left-back, thanks to Tierney, Andrew Robertson and Lee Wallace.
Devoid of strength in depth at right-back and central defence, however, he has used Tierney in both roles recently.
Asked if the 5ft 9in midfielder turned left-back could do a job for Scotland at centre-back, Rodgers has no doubts.
‘International football? Yes, for sure,’ he said, ‘Especially if you play with a three, he can play on the outside of a back three absolutely no problem.
‘He can sit in there and serve, he wants the ball, he can play, he is quick.
‘So he is very multifunctional, he has good ideas and he is gaining confidence in passing and playing. He is a big talent.’
Tierney signed a new fiveyear deal at Celtic last season but, although linked with Manchester United, he has shown no inclination to move to the English Premier League in a hurry.
‘He is Celtic-daft,’ said Rodgers. ‘He is in a real happy place. He is clever, he knows he’s still learning the game. But his passion is Celtic.
‘It’s great to see. He comes in with a smile, he comes in to learn. Celtic is his life and has been his life since he was a child. He has that intensity and is a great representation of the supporters.
‘He signed a five-year deal last year, he is playing, he is developing, he is playing week in and week out and is winning.
‘He is an outstanding talent, but still growing, still improving and that’s what he wants.’
Rodgers, meanwhile, expects to see Eboue Kouassi back in action against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin this weekend after missing the three games in Austria and the Czech Republic.
‘It’s a shame because, in the session before we were leaving, he got a kick in his abductor,’ said the boss. ‘We were playing a training game and he felt it.
‘He didn’t really get the pain until he arrived in Austria and, when we assessed it, it was a case of: “Okay, let’s see if it settles down”.
‘We thought he was probably going to be out for a period of time, but he wanted to stay and be around the team and the squad.
‘He’s been working hard on his rehab and physical work and it’s a shame because he was training all summer getting fit.
‘He came back in and looked really, really good. But we’re hoping he will be with us by the weekend training.’
A £3million signing in January, Kouassi has struggled to make an impact, Rodgers admitting the midfielder needed time to adjust to life in Scotland.
‘He was brought in as one who would, over a period of time, develop,’ he said. ‘He was a young player really at 19 and the first six months were about customising to your language and the city of Glasgow — and the football.
‘Some young players go in and develop quickly, some need that wee bit of time.
‘Also, he’s got real competition in there. He was certainly one we felt was more for the future — but could come in and play now if needed.’