It was great to see Kieran Tierney back at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon.
Six years after Tierney left Celtic for Arsenal, he graced the Paradise pitch once more, as Brendan Rodgers watched his team beat Newcastle United 4-0.
Tierney replaces Greg Taylor in Glasgow after the former Kilmarnock man decided to join Greek side PAOK on a free transfer.
It’s fair to say Taylor divided opinion at Celtic, with Rodgers having to come out and defend his player last season, and it all stemmed from the style in which he played.
And it has been made clear that Tierney won’t be going down such a road.
Kieran Tierney and Greg Taylor at Celtic
Tierney is your old-school fullback, as he likes to bomb up and down the flank, and then put the ball into the box for his teammates.
Frank McAvennie made it clear that fans won’t be seeing Tierney ‘going into midfield’ or ‘passing it back’ like Taylor used to.
Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast, McAvennie is loving the fact that he is able to see Tierney in the famous green and white colours again.
“You have got to remember, Kieran can play centre-half as well,” said McAvennie. “It was (surreal watching Tierney playing for Celtic again). He was just driving through.
“Kieran isn’t going to do that Greg Taylor role. He isn’t going to go into midfield and do all of that. That’s not him.
“He will go down the wing, and he will get the ball. That’s why I think he will get the ball in for the centre-forward. He won’t bring it out and pass it back.”
Tierney vs Taylor at Celtic comparison
In truth, it probably suited all parties that Taylor moved on, even though some were a little harsh on the player at the start of last season.
At the end of the day, you do what your manager asks you, and if Rodgers wants him to tuck into midfield and keep hold of the ball, then he is going to do just that.
But Taylor’s record at Celtic speaks for itself, and just like Tierney, he is a legendary figure.
- Tierney’s games for Celtic: 170
- Goals: 8
- Assists: 37
- Clean Sheets: 84
- Trophies: 11
- Taylor’s games for Celtic: 216
- Goals: 9
- Assists: 33
- Clean Sheets: 97
- Trophies: 11
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