Scotland captain Andy Robertson has shed light on the injury that forced Kieran Tierney to pull out of the national squad this week.
The test confirmed he would be unable to feature in either of Scotland’s two matches.
It marks another frustrating setback for the Celtic defender, who has only just returned to the club following his time in England. For Clarke, it leaves a major gap in defence, with Tierney’s ability to operate as a centre-back or left-back key to the system.
Robertson admitted the scan result was a huge disappointment for both the player and the squad, given how important Tierney has become to Scotland in recent years.
He said: (RecordSport), “KT still has a big future for Scotland, 100 percent. He’s a fantastic player and character.
“It’s just unfortunate that he’s turned up for camp, had a scan and it has ruled him out of both games.
“It’s disappointing for him and the squad because he’s grown into a massive part of our team.“
Robertson’s words show how big a blow the scan was, as it confirmed Tierney’s injury was bad enough to keep him out straight away. It wasn’t just caution, but a clear medical call that ruled him out of action.
Celtic will now hope the issue is only short-term, with Brendan Rodgers already missing players at the back. A long spell out for Tierney would cause real problems with important games coming up.
For Scotland, it means finding a way to cope without someone Robertson says is vital to the squad. The scan left Steve Clarke without one of his most reliable defenders at a crucial stage of qualifying.
It is another setback in Tierney’s struggle to stay fit, but Robertson has no doubt that when he is available, he remains one of the most important players for both club and country.
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