The left-back is a doubt for the derby day Scottish Cup showdown as the Glasgow giants face off
08:18, 08 Mar 2026
View 2 Images
Kieran Tierney of Celtic
Celtic star Kieran Tierney could face a painful "double whammy" of watching his former side Arsenal win the title - while his current side end up trophyless.
That is according to former Scotland international Kevin Gallacher, who reckons Tierney's summer return to Celtic Park has "not worked out" at this stage of the campaign. The 28-year-old left North London behind last summer for his boyhood club.
After a slow start to his second Celtic spell, the left-back has emerged as a key man for Martin O'Neill for the title run-in. The Hoops are battling it out with league leaders Hearts and Rangers to defend their Scottish Premiership crown this term.
Tierney has netted in Celtic's last two games as they battled back from 2-0 down to draw with Rangers at Ibrox, and in the battling win over Aberdeen. However, boss O'Neill admits Celtic will have to make a last minute call on the fitness of the defender for their Scottish Cup quarter final against Rangers after picking up a foot knock at Pittodrie.
And Gallacher told the Sunday Post: "When Kieran Tierney left Arsenal for Celtic last summer, the view in England was that he was going back north for an easy life. People looked at Celtic's record of winning 13 of the last 14 titles and came to the conclusion it would be a penalty kick for them to extend the sequence.
"Especially as they were getting Kieran back, a player who the Gunners had paid them £25 million for in 2019. Tierney had been a serial silverware winner at the club prior to making his big money move to the Gunners and the assumption was he would carry on right where he left off
"He'd be picking up winners' medals and enjoying regular runouts in glamour Champions League ties - and all the time receiving the adulation of the supporters who need no telling he is one of their own and accord him the status of a current day legend.
It has not worked out that way. Not so far anyway. He has been great. He has brought all the quality that he has and the benefits of the experience he has picked up and channelled it into helping the club win football matches.
"However, even with his contribution, Celtic have had their toughest season since their meltdown of 2020-21, the blip on their record.
"That was the year that Rangers, under the charge of Steven Gerrard, won the league with an "Invincible" league campaign.
"They have done really well to still be in the title race, which is a thrilling four-way chase along with Motherwell, Rangers, and Hearts.
"However, I fancy they, and the rest of them, will have to settle for minor places as Derek McInnes has really got something going at Tynecastle.
"If I am right, then it might end up being something of a double whammy for Kieran as I also fancy his old club to win the English Premier League this year. That is something they have not done since the days of Arsene Wenger's Invincibles in 2004!
View 2 Images
(Image: PA)
"So, this is Arsenal's chance and it is the one they have spent years building towards. Could Kieran have been part of it?
"Well, the fans loved him and his manager Mikel Arteta has always raved about his attitude and application. At the same time, I got the impression they were edging him out a little bit.
"He racked up a decent number of appearances over the course of the season, but he was not one of the real regulars. He would play a couple of games and then come out of the side, come back for a couple and then drop out again. That would have been frustrating
"By contrast, he knew that if he went back to Scotland, he would be a huge influence on and off the park at a club he loved.
Article continues below
"We have been seeing increasing examples of that in recent weeks and there was another one up at Aberdeen in midweek where he popped up with yet another crucial goal.
"Marcelo Sarracchi is another fine left-back, but he does not offer as much going forward So, for all the chances of Tierney's old club finishing as champions while his new one miss out, that was, and remains, a no-brainer."