Scotland national team manager Gordon Strachan has praised Kieran Tierney’s desire and commitment on the football pitch stating that he is “an old fashioned player”.
The 19-year-old has been called up to the Scotland national team as they prepare for a crucial World Cup qualifier against England at Hampden Park on June 10.
The teenager was a major doubt to be selected as he picked up a serious knock to the mouth in Celtic’s victory in the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen which saw him replaced in the first-half.
Tierney has been influential in helping Celtic achieve a historic domestic treble this season, making 40 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals from the full-back position.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match, as quoted in the Scottish Sun, Strachan believes that Tierney’s presence is key to the squad as he has the right mentality to deal with such an important football match.
“We need players to be brave and stand up and win individual battles and not be scared of the occasion or what you’re playing against,” he said.
“That’s why Kieran’s very important because he’s not scared of anybody — but he’s not arrogant either.
“He has a real belief in himself to go one to one with anybody which, as I say, is very unusual in football.
“He’s an old-fashioned player who likes going forward but who understands that defending is his job — to stop people playing and then attack.”
Tierney made his first appearance for the senior Scotland side in a friendly match against Denmark at Hampden Park in March 2016.
Since then, the teenager has earned two more caps for the national side as he featured in Scotland’s 3-0 loss to Slovakia last October and he was also involved in the 1-0 win over Slovenia in March at Hampden Park.