Scotland vice-captain John McGinn has declared Kieran Tierney as "one of the best players in Britain" after the Arsenal defender sealed a sensational return to Celtic.
The 27-year-old full-back has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Hoops and will make his long-awaited homecoming when his deal at the Emirates Stadium expires this summer.
Tierney’s return is a major coup for Brendan Rodgers’ side given the Arsenal support still hold him in high regard.
And Aston Villa skipper McGinn, who has linked up with Tierney for Scotland’s UEFA Nations League double-header against Greece this week, is in no doubt about the quality his international teammate brings.
“It is good to have him back! We were winding him up about playing left wing last week in the Champions League,” McGinn said ahead of Scotland’s play-off clash first leg in Athens.
“A fit and firing Kieran Tierney is one of the best players, not only in Scotland, but in Britain, so we are grateful to have him back.
“He is a big character among the boys and, thankfully, I can still play my music and leave KT to it.”
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Tierney has endured a frustrating time with injuries in recent years and hasn’t featured for Scotland since being stretchered off against Switzerland at Euro 2024.
McGinn added: “He never seems to get a bit of luck. It’s always something serious when he gets injured.
“His injury was a freak one when he was keeping up with one of the fastest players in the tournament. It was a massive loss for us at the time.
“For him to be out for so long was probably difficult for him to deal with, but now he is back, getting a bit more minutes for Arsenal, and we’ll see what he will do in the summer.”
Celtic fans will be counting down the days until their academy graduate pulls on the green and white again.
And with McGinn’s glowing endorsement, they know they are getting a player still capable of operating at the very highest level as they strive for continued domestic success and improved fortunes on the European stage.
