Kieran Tierney has dismissed rumours that he needed hip surgery before his return.
The Celtic left-back missed 10 weeks of action thanks to what everyone believed to be a major hip problem. However, as it turns out, the Hoops defender simply needed some rest.
Tierney has since featured in five matches since his return last month, and is now away on international duty with Scotland. Lengthy trips to Kazakhstan and San Marino are up over the next week in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Despite that, however, Tierney confirmed in the Scottish Sun that rest was all he needed back in December.
“I never came out and said that I had a hip injury. But, apparently, I was going for a hip operation and it was the same one Andy Murray had. It’s funny how things grow arms and legs, with people saying one thing which leads to another.
“You don’t believe everything you read. It was unfortunate for me that I had ten weeks out, but that’s football.
“It was always just rest I needed. There is nothing you can do for the problem other than rest. There is no operation that would have been helpful in any way for it. It was just overused and the ten weeks did me the world of good.”
Still finding his feet
Tierney is still giving off the impression of a player continuing to find his feet back in the starting XI. He still seems a tad hesitant to go beyond Scott Sinclair down the left, and we haven’t seen him consistently reach the byline like he normally does.
Having a fit and firing Tierney is essential to our success domestically this season. We all remember the chaotic left-back scenario we had at Ibrox when Callum McGregor was shifted out there. Tierney being back is a massive boost for the club as a whole, but his performance levels still need to improve.
Such lengthy journeys to Kazakhstan and San Marino aren’t particularly promising. Kazakhstan play on a synthetic surface too, making it doubly concerning.
Tierney looks set to start in Kazakhstan too. Andy Robertson will miss the clash due to a dental issue, and Tierney is the only viable left-back alternative.
The hope is that the Celtic starlet can rediscover his mojo with Scotland in time for the Rangers game. So much is likely to go through him on March 31st, and we need him on top of his game.
At the very least, however, it’s good to know that surgery was always a long way off the mark.
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