THE VERDICT OUR FABULOUS 20-PAGE FOOTBALL MAGAZINE

Celtic’s homegrown trio of Champions League stars can help propel the nation to Euro 2020 SAYS TOM BOYD

SCOTTish footballers will audition for a part in a brighter future for the national team when the Netherlands visit Pittodrie this week. But whatever happens on Thursday night, Tom Boyd believes the role Kieran Tierney must play for his country was made abundantly clear during a previous trip to Aberdeen and another night against high-class Dutch opposition.

Last month, the 20-year-old left-back scored the opening goal for Celtic in Aberdeen and set up the second for Moussa Dembele in a thumping 3-0 win for the scottish champions.

Tierney followed that up by emerging with huge credit from his personal Champions League duel with Bayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben — now retired from the international arena but a 2010 World Cup finalist with the Netherlands.

Under Gordon strachan, Tierney slotted in at right-back for the national team, while Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson started in the left-back slot.

But those two recent blistering displays have left former scotland and Celtic captain Boyd adamant the next national team boss can’t afford to play the Celtic kid anywhere other than his best position.

‘When you see the level of Kieran’s performances on the left for Celtic, scotland have been missing out,’ argued Boyd, who is the sixth mostcapped scottish player of all time with 72 appearances.

‘he has been a great performer for scotland at right-back. he does well there, but left-back is his best position.

‘if he is on the right for scotland, he doesn’t score the opening goal he scored up at Aberdeen recently and he doesn’t put over that terrific ball for Dembele’s second at Pittodrie.

‘i thought he was absolutely outstanding against Aberdeen that night but he was even better against Bayern Munich.

‘You have to look at the level of opposition — and games don’t come much bigger than against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

‘Kieran was up against a worldclass attacker in Robben. But Kieran not only managed to keep him quiet, he also helped out in an attacking sense.

‘it’s fortunate that scotland have two very good left-back options. But i’d suggest Kieran is in front of Andrew Robertson.

‘Robertson is a very good player but he’s been out of the team at Liverpool recently and he should perhaps be at right-back, with Kieran at left-back.

‘if you go back to the time when Danny McGrain and sandy Jardine were playing, they were two great players but two into one does not go.

‘And i just feel when you have a guy like Kieran playing in the Champions League and playing at the kind of standard he has been playing, then you lessen the scotland team by playing him at right-back.’

There were 17 scouts watching Tierney against the German giants at Celtic Park on Tuesday night. Just 24 hours earlier, though, he had signed a new six-year contract.

Former Parkhead striker Chris sutton believes Tierney is the best homegrown left-back in Britain and should have a £30million clause in his contract to trigger his release.

But Boyd would not be surprised if the young defender remains at Celtic Park for the duration of his bumper deal.

Nor would the former scotland captain be taken aback if Tierney succeeds scott Brown as captain of both club and country.

‘Kieran is a Celtic supporter and his fellow Celtic supporters are all delighted that he has signed a new six-year deal,’ said Boyd.

‘i can see him seeing out the deal due to his strong feelings for the club.

‘he can go out every week and show his desire and passion for his club.

‘he is getting success and he is also making a name for himself in the Champions League against the world’s best players.

‘Everything is there at Celtic for Kieran that he will ever need.

‘hopefully, he will be here for many years to come and, although he’s pulled on the armband before, he is a Celtic captain of the future.

‘Broony won’t be around as long as Kieran in a scotland jersey either — unless Broony can defy age!

‘For such a young lad, Kieran is already held in so much respect by his team-mates at club and country. he would have their respect if he is ever named scotland captain — but right now that’s for the future.’

Boyd also believes there were encouraging signs for scotland as James Forrest and Callum McGregor teamed up for the equaliser against Bayern Munich.

The duo were left on the bench by Gordon strachan as scotland’s World Cup dream died in slovenia.

But they will join up with their country this week as players who are very much at home on the biggest Champions League stage.

Craig Gordon, Brown, stuart Armstrong, Tierney, Forrest, McGregor and Leigh Griffiths — who misses out against the Dutch through injury — have all helped Celtic beat the club’s own 100-year British record for unbeaten games.

That fell on saturday when Brendan Rodgers’ side made it 63 matches without domestic defeat in a 4-0 win at st Johnstone.

And Boyd hopes the magnificent seven can help strachan’s successor end scotland’s international exile by reaching Euro 2020.

‘i know scotland had Brown and Armstrong missing in slovenia but i don’t think there’s anyone playing better than McGregor.

‘And Forrest had his best-ever performance for Celtic against Bayern. he set up Callum’s goal but he was terrific all night, against the boy Kingsley Coman.

‘The terrific thing is that Callum and James, as well as Kieran, came through Celtic’s ranks.

‘it’s fabulous that the club is producing homegrown players capable of starring in the Champions League.

‘hopefully, they can all help scotland to a major tournament.’

When you see Kieran play on the left for Celtic, Scotland are missing out