The emotional return to Celtic Park for the 26-year-old Scotland defender this summer has received much media attention.
Despite Celtic’s interest, Arsenal star Kieran Tierney confesses he is unsure of his future.
The 26-year-old Scotland defender has been strongly connected to a spectacular summer loan return to Parkhead. When questioned about a possible transfer earlier this month, Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers would not rule it out, and Tierney is rumored to be open to returning to his old team.
Additionally, the £25m defender, who has fallen out of favor under Mikel Arteta, has been linked to Newcastle United. With three years left on his £120k per week contract, KT was forthright when asked about his future.
It’s not really up to me, he stated following the 2-0 loss to Manchester United. I haven’t talked to the management about anything; I just put in a lot of effort every day and try to perform as best as I can.
“I didn’t miss a single game because of injury last season. I was available for every match and always ready when called upon.”
“I think everyone would agree that I never give less than 100 percent, whether I’m playing or not. You can’t play every single game every year and I don’t expect that.”
“But I still made a lot of appearances last season coming off the bench, whether that was to see games out or help to get a goal, and I did all I could to help.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival from Manchester City last season knocked Tierney down the list of priorities at the Emirates, resulting in the left-back making only six Premier League starts.
Zinchenko, a 26-year-old international for Ukraine, has been utilized as an inverted full-back, a position that Tierney, a versatile player who can play left-back or left center-back, is still figuring out. But if he’s still a Gunners player at the beginning of September, the Isle of Man-born sensation hopes to be given more chances to demonstrate his talent.
He said: “Zinny is the prime example of how to play that role so if you’re going to learn off anyone it would be him. I’ve been watching him and asking him questions, but there are so many different ways of playing.”
“Different people work in different ways. Video helps for sure, but even when I’m on the bench I watch Zinny when he goes inside and when he comes out.”
“It was all genuinely new to me because I’d never played in the centre of the park before. It wasn’t somewhere I ventured very often so it makes you a better player learning about these roles.”