KIERAN TIERNEY, who looks like starting at left back tomorrow after for Scotland, has given an in-depth interview to the travelling media hacks ahead of the opening Euros Qualifier against Kazakhstan in the Astana Arena.
It’s a stadium that Tierney and his teammates from Celtic know well from Champions League qualifiers and Alex McLeish is likely to have all of The Celtic boys in his team tomorrow, maybe with ex-Celt Stuart Armstrong joining them.
The interview with KT gives us an insight into some of the recent goings on at Celtic and also let’s the fans favourite talk about how he handled his time out of the team due to the hip problem, and how he was hearing all sorts of online rumours about needing to go under the surgeon’s knife to have an operation similar to the one Andy Murray hd on his own hip.
“Social media can be good and it can be bad,” KT said. “It lets you communicate to other people. I have relationships with people like Jake Bugg and Connor McGregor who I have met through social media.
“Throughout my injury, Connor McGregor was brilliant with me. He has a programme he does on the Wattbike that helped him get fit and he was giving me tips on that, which was amazing. That came after we got in touch through social media.
“I was doing work on the Wattbike with the Celtic physios anyway – that’s what gets you fit through different programmes. But I found out what his programme was and had a look to see if it was similar.
“I was still doing Celtic’s programme, but the little tips from him helped too. He’s my biggest hero outside of football so it was amazing. I don’t know how my results compared to his, but it was pretty good.
“It was just brilliant to hear from him. When you’re injured you always feel a bit lower than usual because you’re not out on the pitch training with everyone. So to hear from your hero and get advice from him lifted me that wee bit.”
KT explained how he became good mates with McGregor. “He then came over to Glasgow for a question and answer thing he was doing. I got talking to his mates who said he’d love one of my Celtic jerseys.
“I sent him a few over for him and his mates the next thing I know he sent me a message saying thanks and posted a photo on Instagram. Honestly, I couldn’t sleep that night.
“He posted the picture at around 10.50pm and I was sitting there thinking ‘no way!’ That was me up the full night. I went buzzing into training.
“I’m a massive fan of his. His documentary is great when you listen to the way he talks about positivity. It’s all about mindset and how you react to people doubting you, and how to come back from defeats. I think any athlete can relate to him.
“I met him in Belfast two years ago. It was UFC Belfast and he was there supporting his friend who was fighting and I was there because I was injured at the time. I was ringside next to him and got chatting to him for ten or 15 minutes. I got a signed glove from him and a t-shirt as well so it’s class.”
KT formed another friendship with singer Jake Bugg on social media.
“I’ve been to a few of his concerts. I was a major fan of his when I was younger so to get in touch with him was brilliant for me. I don’t think they’ll be telling people they’ve been in touch with me – I’m just a wee guy from Wishaw.
“But it’s crazy for me. I was looking up to those people, watching documentaries and interviews on You Tube. Then to actually talk to them in person is next level for me.
“It’s stuff you aspire to, but never think it’ll happen. I never said to myself ‘I’m going to talk to Conor McGregor or meet him,’ and that he’ll be wearing my shirt training one day. You just can’t write that stuff. It’s crazy.”
Then there’s the other side of social media, such as the rumour that The Celtic left back would be going in for an Andy Murray type hip op, which is career threatening at its worst. Tierney though takes it all with a pinch of salt.
“I find it funny. My mates always send me rumours and stuff that’s flying around about myself. I don’t know where some of it comes from. You just take everything with a pinch of salt. You just need to get on with your work and stay quiet.”
This hip rumour was more serious that others though and KT felt it should be addressed.
“I’ve had injuries before. I broke my two legs and I had a shoulder operation as well and they’ve all kept me out for roughly the same period of time of 10 to 12 weeks. It’s not my first injury and it won’t be my last. That’s the same for any player with injuries. It’s unfortunate at times, but that’s football and you deal with it.
“Apparently I was going for a hip operation and it was the same one Andy Murray had. It’s funny how things grow arms and legs. People say one thing and it leads to another. You don’t believe everything you read.
“There is nothing you can do for the problem but rest. It was always just rest. There is no operation that would have been helpful in any way for it. It was just overuse and the 10 weeks did me the world of good. The rest benefited me both mentally and physically. It was probably a good thing for the long term.”
