The send-off Arsenal supporters gave Kieran Tierney was pretty special.
It signified just how popular Tierney is, but the welcome back to Celtic was better and will get even better once supporters get to cheer him back onto the pitch.
The 28-year-old was on Scotland duty in early June, so he has just returned to pre-season for Celtic, and he was part of the second batch of players that returned to Lennoxtown over the weekend.
The Celtic Park faithful completely understand that they are blessed to have Tierney back in their colours because, aside from his injury issues, on his day, he is still one of the best players in his position.
And he is starting to show that in pre-season training.
Kieran Tierney celebrates after Celtic are crowned Scottish Premiership champions
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Kieran Tierney is impressing in Celtic training
The footage started with the Celtic players being put through a few individual drills, with Liam Scales particularly keen to get going as he shouted, ‘bring it in’, before receiving the ball.
Then, attention turned to a small-sided game, with Tierney screaming ‘win the ball back’ to his teammate Sean McArdle, and he did just that.
Celtic’s returning hero is then running back towards his own goal, but is surrounded by several opposition players, before he remains calm, passes it back to the goalkeeper and receives the ball again.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
But, as one of the Celtic coaches shouts in the background, ‘you have him trapped’, Tierney is in a bit of trouble, and that’s where he showcases his class because he gets out of a tight situation from inside his own penalty box, with shouts of ‘Oh my God, KT’, as posted by Celtic TV.
When will Tierney play for Celtic?
All Celtic fans want to know now is when they will see Tierney on the pitch again, so they can shout his name loud and proud.
Of course, Tierney’s second debut, at home to St Mirren on the opening day of the Premiership season, will hit differently.
But, with Celtic to play Cork on Tuesday evening in Ireland, Tierney won’t play, and that has been confirmed by Rodgers himself.
But expect to see him in Portugal.
“The guys that have just come back probably won’t be involved in the Tuesday game,” shared Rodgers. “It’s just too soon coming back, but they’ll be involved next Saturday when we play in Portugal.”