I’ve never been to a Scotland game, but now I could be wearing the jersey
FEW players in Scottish football have enjoyed such a rapid rise from anonymity to celebrity as Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney.
Just 12 months ago he struggled to get into his club’s Under-20 team in the Development League yet, in nine days’ time, the teenager could earn his first Scotland cap in the friendly with Denmark at Hampden.
Celtic boss Ronny Deila remains hopeful that the ankle knock Tierney suffered at Kilmarnock yesterday won’t derail his player’s cap dream. For if he does make his debut, Tierney will become — at 18 years, nine months and four days old — the third-youngest player to appear for the national team in the last 127 years.
Only Huddersfield Town striker Denis Law and Rangers winger Willie Henderson were younger when they first pulled on the dark blue.
Tierney will also become the youngest Celt to play for his country — one month and 26 days younger than Paul McStay was when he broke through against Uruguay in 1983.
Remarkably, it will not only be Tierney’s first game for Scotland but in fact the first Scotland game he has ever attended.
‘I’ve only ever watched the games on television — I’ve never been to any,’ he confessed. ‘I’ve obviously supported them, though, and I know it’s an honour to play for your country.
‘I was in a bath after training, actually, when someone came through with a picture of the squad about 10 minutes after it had been announced.
‘There had been no warning about it, although I knew there had been some speculation that I might be involved. The fact there were two squads probably gave me a better chance of getting picked.’
Few Celtic players have escaped criticism during this unconvincing campaign but Tierney and Leigh Griffiths have been the shining lights for supporters disillusioned by the downsizing of ambition at their club.
Yesterday’s match at Kilmarnock was only the defender’s 27th appearance for Ronny Deila’s first team but he is wasting no time in achieving his ambitions.
‘Definitely,’ he agreed. ‘My debut for Celtic, my debut at Parkhead, my European debut and an international call-up.
‘The last three have all come for me in the space of seven months, so I’m delighted with that. There’s also the possibility of collecting my first two winner’s medals; that’s what I’m hoping for.
‘Obviously, we’ve got the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers next month but we’ve got league games before that and we have to deal with them first.
‘Winning the Double is the next goal — that and qualifying for the Champions League.
‘It’s hard to believe; me and my family still can’t believe it. You just need to take it in your stride, not get big-headed and keep your feet on the ground.
‘The novelty definitely hasn’t worn off. Every time you see your name on the team sheet you’re still buzzing.
‘We’ve got Emilio Izaguirre here and I’m still young, so you’re thinking: “He could be playing in the next game”. Every time I’ve been in there I’ve been delighted.’
Celtic’s supporters may be turning against Deila but Tierney can’t speak highly enough of the manager for granting him the opportunity he had dreamed about since first signing for the club as a seven-year-old.
‘I don’t think I’d be anywhere near the first team if it wasn’t for him,’ he said. ‘He’s believed in me. He liked the way I trained with the Under-20s and he’s put his trust in me. I’ll be forever grateful for that.
‘He’s been great with all the young players. They know they’ve got a chance here.’