9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kieran Tierney of Celtic arrives for the match
Kieran Tierney has given a little insight into his fitness issues.
The defender has started four of Celtic’s seven SPFL matches but has only played 317 minutes according to Transfermarkt.
A familiar pattern of being substituted after 83, 70 and 71 minutes ties in with last season’s appearances.
In all competitions Tierney has only completed the full match twice. Away at Kilmarnock in the second match of the season then, more recently in the Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros.
With no other natural left-back at the club the reliance on Tierney is obvious.
Tierney left the World Cup Finals with a very impressive display against Brazil but missed out on the recent Nations League matches.
Four international matches over 10 days is a heavy toll with Tierney missing out
Version 1 Tierney charging down the left has been replaced by an older, more experienced full-back who carefully chooses the times to attack.
Asked about the issue keeping him out of the Scotland squad Tierney told the Celtic website:
I’m feeling good. I’ve trained this week. It was something I had for a while. It was ongoing and I never gave it the proper chance to heal. So I got the proper chance now. I’m feeling good and ready to go again.
There is no reference to what the issue may be.
Hopefully it isn’t fatigue, at 29 Tierney should be at the top of his game, drawing on over a decade of experience.
CELTIC DEPENDENCE ON TIERNEY
Celtic’s schedule starting today isn’t one for the faint hearted.
There are nine matches to be played before November 8 and a two match, one weekend international break.
When Tierney hasn’t played Liam Scales has been his replacement at left-back barring 10 minutes of Jordan Latomba at Ibrox in the League Cup.
That situation is far from ideal, on Friday Martin O’Neill claimed that Landon Emenalo would be joining up ‘this week’.
Yet to play a minute of senior football it is hard to see the Chelsea teenager being heavily involved any time soon.
After three weeks of speculating on a variety of issues Celtic are back in action at Motherwell today.
Tierney’s fitness will be one of many areas that fans are looking closely at for answers.
