Kieran Tierney has sealed his long-awaited return to Celtic, signing a five-year deal after a £25 million switch from Arsenal. The move sees the Scotland international back at the Hoops six years after leaving for the English Premier League.
Tierney’s return has been met with excitement among the support, who remember his previous spell as one of the club’s standout academy graduates. His quality and experience at the highest level bring an immediate boost to Brendan Rodgers’ squad ahead of a demanding season.
However, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has sounded a note of caution. While acknowledging Tierney’s ability, Sutton has raised concerns over the defender’s well-documented injury problems, which plagued his time at Arsenal and limited his game time in recent seasons.
Sutton believes Celtic cannot afford to rely solely on Tierney staying fit, particularly with Greg Taylor set to depart for PAOK. The pundit has urged the club to act swiftly in the transfer market to ensure adequate cover is in place should Tierney face further spells on the sidelines.
He said: (RecordSport), “The return of Tierney is a major boost. Listen, we know he’s had injury issues and that is going to be a question mark.
“But there is absolutely no doubting his quality. If he stays fit he’ll be a brilliant signing, it’s as simple as that.
“There is a need for a strong back up though, just going on recent evidence. Tierney isn’t going to play every minute of a 55 game season. He’s just not.
“That means there needs to be a more than capable left back on the books to slot in some weeks or come off the bench.
“Greg Taylor would have been ideal but it looks like that ship has sailed, so Celtic need to address it.”
With Champions League qualifiers fast approaching, Brendan Rodgers faces a race against time to ensure his squad has the depth required for the challenges ahead. The left-back area is now firmly under the spotlight.
Tierney’s undoubted quality makes him one of the standout signings of the summer window, but Celtic cannot afford to gamble on his fitness holding up across a full campaign. A reliable back-up option will be essential.
The departure of Taylor leaves a void that must be filled, either by promoting from within or by moving into the transfer market before the season fully kicks into gear.
Rodgers and the Celtic recruitment team will now be tasked with finding the right balance between quality and depth to ensure the club are properly equipped for the months ahead.
