Major Kieran Tierney Injury Update

Celtic fans have been handed a reassuring Kieran Tierney update after the defender was forced off during Scotland’s World Cup defeat to Morocco.

Tierney started for Steve Clarke’s side but had to come off during the second half, sparking immediate concern given his injury record and his expected return to Celtic this summer.

The initial worry was obvious. Tierney is due to link back up with Celtic after Scotland’s World Cup campaign, and with pre-season getting closer, the last thing Martin O’Neill needed was a longer-term fitness issue before the squad gets properly back to work.

Thankfully, Clarke moved quickly to calm those fears after the match. Speaking to The Standard, the Scotland manager confirmed the issue was not a muscular injury.

He said: “Kieran was terrific, he just cramped up a little bit.”

That will come as a relief to Celtic. Cramp is a very different matter from a hamstring, calf or knee problem, and Clarke’s wording suggests there is no major concern over Tierney’s fitness at this stage.

The timing still means Celtic won’t see him straight away when pre-season begins. Scotland are set to face Brazil just 48 hours before Celtic’s return to training, so Tierney was always expected to be a later arrival.

He will not be the only one in that position. A number of Celtic players have been involved at the World Cup, and O’Neill will need to manage staggered returns as he prepares for the new campaign.

For Tierney, the main thing is that the Morocco scare appears to be nothing more than fatigue after a demanding night. Celtic will want him back fit, sharp and ready to play a big part once his Scotland duties are finished.