Kieran Tierney provides fitness update every Celtic fan needs to hear after win vs Partick Thistle

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Nobody was more delighted than the Celtic fans when Kieran Tierney returned to the club this summer.

There has been a common theme with Tierney under Brendan Rodgers in his second spell, and that’s the fact that he hasn’t completed 90 minutes of football.

But on Sunday, all of that changed when Celtic beat Partick Thistle to progress to the last four of the League Cup, and set up another Hampden meeting with Rangers.

For the first time since returning to Celtic, the club’s all-action left-back completed the entire game and provided a key fitness update for everyone.

• READ MORE: Meet Kieran Tierney, the Celtic fan favourite who returned to Paradise

Kieran Tierney provides fitness update after Celtic beat Partick Thistle

There has been a lot of noise and even concerns around Tierney’s fitness and why he isn’t completing matches.

But speaking to Premier Sports, the man himself made it clear, it has been ‘stop-start’ for him during the last few seasons, and it hasn’t helped.

However, on the plus side, things are looking far better, as Tierney also thanked Rodgers and the coaching staff for providing him with the time, hence why he called himself ‘so lucky.’

“I am getting there, defo,” said Tierney on his fitness. “Still a little bit to go. But if you look back at the last couple of seasons, it has been stop-start, so it’s not going to be as simple as coming in and being 100% straight away.

“That’s why I have been so lucky here, with the gaffer and the team. They have given me time. Bit by bit, I will build it up.

“A good 90 minutes under my belt, and I feel great.”

Number of times Tierney has completed 90 minutes for the last three seasons

Last season, Tierney spent most of the time on Arsenal’s bench, and the season before, he was on loan at Real Sociedad after his minutes at the Emirates started to fade away before that.

Injuries haven’t helped his cause; that’s why he must be allowed to settle in as slowly as possible.

Let’s be honest, given Celtic’s dominance in Scotland, he is allowed to do so, but Tierney has checked off 90 minutes for the first time in a long time.

• 5 games completed in the last three seasons for Tierney after win at Firhill