Celtic’s Premiership opener finished with a 1-0 win over St Mirren, and although Kieran Tierney went off early in the second half, Brendan Rodgers quickly reassured everyone that the defender is fine.
Tierney, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, showed signs of his usual pace and drive down the left side. He combined well with his teammates, pressed high up the pitch, and was confident on the ball. His early substitution caught many supporters off guard, leading to fears of another setback.
Seeing Tierney walking around freely after the match backed up Rodgers’ comments, showing the change was about keeping him fresh rather than reacting to a knock. With a long season ahead, Celtic plan to ease him back into regular action.
Rodgers explained after the game that the decision was just precautionary, with no new injury to worry about. The Irishman stressed that the 28-year-old needs to be managed carefully given his lack of football in recent seasons, and confirmed there is no ongoing problem.
He said: (BBC Scotland), “Kieran hasn’t had much football in the last few years and we have to manage him in the games and I thought he was excellent.
“He was very good and it was great to see him back at Celtic Park.”
Rodgers’ update will be welcome news for supporters hoping to see Tierney play regularly this season. His showing against St Mirren highlighted what he adds to the side, mixing strong defending with his trademark runs forward.
The 1-0 win gave Celtic a strong start to their title defence, and Tierney’s good health means one of the summer’s biggest signings is still on course to make a big impact.
His condition will be watched closely, but for now there is nothing stopping him from becoming an important player for Rodgers again.
With league and European qualifiers coming quickly, the chance for Tierney to build rhythm is an exciting one for both the manager and the fans. The plan to manage his minutes seems to be working, and his performance on Sunday was a reminder of how much he offers when fit.
