Kieran Tierney‘s versatility has been praised ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, with Scotland set to play him out of his favoured left-back role.
The 23 year-old joined Arsenal from Celtic last summer, and thoroughly impressed in the Premier League despite missing a number of months through injury.
Whilst his debut season didn’t go completely to plan, he still managed to make a big mark for his new side, and helped them to win the FA Cup with some exceptional displays in the process.
Tierney will now get the chance to secure more silverware this Saturday when we return to Wembley for the Community Shield tie with Liverpool, before joining up with his international side.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is keen to start him in his side, despite his favoured role being occupied by Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson, with Tierney’s versatility a huge plus in fitting the pair into the same XI..
“They’ve played together before,” he explained during his press conference. “Gordon Strachan used Kieran as a right-back which was one way to fit them in. Kieran can play left centre-back, he can play left of a back three or pushed on as a wing-back.
“He played all those positions for Arsenal towards the end of last season and did very, very well. I think he made a few people in England sit up and take notice of his talent but I don’t think that would be a big surprise to anybody who watched Kieran develop over the years at Celtic.”
Could Tierney play centrally in a back-four or as a left-winger also?
Patrick
He is most effective as a conventional left back in a back four, but also comfortable as a LWB or as the left centre back in a three.At 5’10” he lacks the height to play as a CB in a back four as he is not particularly strong in the air, and to the best of my knowledge, he has never been played as a left winger for Celtic nor Scotland. For Scotland he is likely to play on the left of a back three, to accommodate Andrew Robertson at LWB.Unfortunately for Scotland they lack top quality at right back and centre back.