Sutty has backed the defender to overcome any hurdles as he adjusts to life back at Parkhead
15:25, 11 Nov 2025
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Celtic's Kieran Tierney arrives at Hampden
Chris Sutton reckons Kieran Tierney may have felt humiliation at being left out of a struggling Celtic.
But the ex-Parkhead star is adamant the full-back is the fighting type who will overcome hurdles and determinedly scrap his way back to his best.
Tierney headed away for Scotland duty having scored his first goal since returning to his boyhood heroes in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
The former Arsenal ace was on the park as a substitute having replaced the injured Marcelo Saracchi with the Uruguayan also named ahead of him for other key games this term, such as the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers.
Tierney arrived back at Celtic amid a fanfare following five years south of the border with the Gunners, but it’s not been an easy beginning or seamless return.
Sutton feels being omitted from starting line-ups as his team fought to find their best form may have been tough for the 28-year-old to absorb and the situation might not have been made any easier by trying to find rhythm after a lack of game-time and injury issues in the latter stages of his spell in London.
But he is also sure the battling character of the tigerish defender and his quality can see him come through.
Speaking on theRecord Celtic Podcast, Sutton said: “It’s interesting because I think most people feel the same way, that Kieran Tierney quite clearly hasn’t been the same since he’s returned to Celtic, whether there’s something psychological in there.
“I’m sure there is and you see with his reaction to scoring the goal, there was elements of frustration coming out. He hasn’t been the same.
“Tierney had injuries before he left Celtic, didn’t play loads of football at Arsenal and we talked about, maybe psychologically, that there’s something there where he has that doubt. He’s struggled to finish games. Maybe he’ll come back and hit the heights.
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Kieran Tierney of Celtic scores his team's second goal
“But I always think with Tierney, whatever people think of him, and I think many people feel the same way and sort of feel a bit sorry for him the way it’s gone since he’s come back. But he is a determined character. He is a determined figure.
“He’s a good type and I’m sure that he would have felt maybe an element of humiliation that he’s coming back and he’s sitting on the bench in a struggling team.
“But I do think that he’s one who will not chuck the towel in, will fight and scrap. There’s a player in there, we know there’s a player in there.”
Tierney could now have an extended run in the side with Saracchi’s hamstring issue potentially ruling him out for a lengthy period.
Sutton believes that’s a blow in the current situation as he explained: “I always felt that Sarracchi, we need to see him over a longer period. But I think he can play that inverted role, which Kieran Tierney, with respect, clearly can’t.
“He can give Celtic maybe better balance on that left-hand side and that ability to play that role, I think, gives him the edge over Tierney, if we’re talking about styles of player,
“I think Saracchi would be or is a better fit for this Celtic team right now, but we don’t know how long he’s going to be out for.”
Ironically, amid the debates over Tierney and Saracchi, the champions have been linked with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.
Like Tierney was this year, the Anfield ace will be available on a pre-contract in January with his current deal on Merseyside due to expire next summer.
Sutton was asked on the Podcast if Robertson would be a good deal for Celtic to chase given he turns 32 in March and he said: “What are you looking at? You’re looking at his physical condition, what’s happened to him at Liverpool?
“Arne Slot brought [Milos] Kerkes in to replace him. Kerkes was the surefire starter at the start of the season, spent a fortune on him and, all of a sudden, at the weekend, [against] Manchester City, Andy Robertson’s back in the team and I suspect he’ll get a lot more game time at Liverpool.
“You are going on about his age, but I think it’s different to Kieran Tierney, if his levels of fitness are there.
“You only have to look at players in the Premier League like Granit Xhaka, who I think is a year older, Casemiro, players like that.
“Robertson has that experience and has that quality and has that know-how. So I think at 32, he could stroll back to Scotland.
“I’m not saying that he will necessarily find it easy all the time, but it is too much quality. If he became available, Celtic would be daft not to take him in.”
Asked if he could see it happening, Sutton added: “I don’t think anybody necessarily thought Tierney would happen.
“I think I was one at the time who thought Tierney might hang around down in the Premier League, go to another club, I don’t know, Crystal Palace or Brighton or Brentford or whoever and give it a go.
“I really welcomed and was excited about the signing of Kieran Tierney, but it’s been tough for him.
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“I know Liverpool are having a rank-rotten season at this moment in time, but you’ve got a player who was discarded by the manager, who’s just come into the team and looks like he’s going to play ahead of how much was Kerkes, 60-odd million, whatever he was.
“And he doesn’t seem a type of guy to me who would just want to come back and take a wage and finish playing for his boyhood club. He’s always seemed a pretty determined type of guy and that’s why he’s achieved what he’s achieved.”