When dissecting a tightly contested Scottish Premiership title race, pundits are bound to throw out a few sweeping statements.
However, former Celtic striker Tony Watt has managed to deliver a genuinely puzzling assessment of the current dynamic between the Parkhead terraces and one of their favourite sons, Kieran Tierney.
Speaking about the Hoops’ chances of stringing together a flawless run to the end of the season, as they battle Hearts and Rangers for the title, Watt rightly highlighted the immense importance of Callum McGregor and Tierney.
The Partick Thistle hitman even went as far as to label the returning left-back as Celtic’s Player of the Year, pointing to an incredible return of 17 goal contributions.
On that front, very few supporters would disagree. Tierney has been absolutely phenomenal.
Where the reality of the Celtic support entirely contradicts Watt’s punditry, however, is his odd claim that the defender ‘gets a lot of stick.’
What do you think is the main reason behind Kieran Tierney’s goalscoring form this season?
How many goals do you think he will score?
Has Kieran Tierney been getting ‘a lot of stick’ from Celtic supporters?
Given Tierney’s injury troubles of the past, he re-joined Celtic in the summer from Arsenal with caution when it came to his fitness and physical situation.
Time and time again, the 28-year-old would be subbed off or not start back-to-back matches if they came in quick succession.
Added to that, his form wasn’t exactly at its splendid best, and it did result in some negativity on social media.
But not to the extent where Watt, speaking on Clyde 1, thinks Tierney is still taking quite a lot of pelters from supporters, because for months now, as he has become physically stronger, the mood has changed.
In these last few months, despite more bumpy roads for Celtic, Tierney has stood above his teammates and showcased the form that made him such a popular figure during his first spell at his boyhood club.
“I think Celtic would need to be flawless from now until the end of the season (to win the title),” said Watt. “I don’t know if that’s possible, with the potential injury of Callum McGregor. The potential injury to Tierney.
“I think those two have held a lot of it together when the times have been tough, and they have been nicking results.
“I would probably go so far as to say that Tierney has been Celtic’s best player this season. Even though he gets a lot of stick. I think it’s something like 17 goal contributions from left-back.
“But Hearts are the team that have shown the best mentality. Hearts got beaten by Rangers, probably comfortably at Ibrox, and they have come back and won two games back-to-back.
“I think Celtic are going to be the biggest challengers, in terms of people who have been there and done that.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
