‘TIERNEY IS FULLY COMMITTED’

JAMES FORREST has said that Kieran Tierney’s commitment to Scotland should not be questioned. Steve Clarke will be forced to complete the regular Euro 2020 qualifiers without the Arsenal left-back after the Gunners stonewalled the national boss’s attempts to secure Tierney’s international release. The £25million star, who has featured in three of Arsenal’s last four matches, was expected to be involved against Cyprus and Kazakhstan. But Clarke was left frustrated at being unable to name the 22-year-old in his 25-man squad because Arsenal want to manage an unspecified injury with the player. With call-offs already proving problematical for Clarke, Forrest insisted his former Celtic team-mate loves representing his country and believes Tierney will be focusing on the bigger picture of being fully fit and ready for the Euro 2020 play-offs next March. ‘Kieran is committed to Scotland,’ said

Forrest. ‘He played for Scotland at an early age and he has captained his country. He loves playing for his country but he was out and is just getting back in the fold at Arsenal. ‘I think Scotland and Arsenal will both want what is best for KT. The main thing for him is just to keep doing what he’s doing at Arsenal and be ready for the games in March.’ Clarke was hit with a raft of subsequent call-offs this week, with captain Andy Robertson the biggest name to drop out. Also unavailable for the double-header are Scott McTominay, Ryan Fraser and Liam Cooper, while Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie has quit the international stage. Lewis Morgan, Ryan Porteous and Graeme Shinnie have all been drafted in. Forrest hopes every available player can be part of history, with Scotland trying to reach their first finals since the World Cup in 1998. ‘It is a chance for other boys to come in and try to stay in the squad for the games in March,’ he said.