Celtic’s Kieran Tierney Conundrum: Scott Allan Weighs in on Midfield Suggestion
As the January transfer window draws to a close, Celtic fans are eagerly awaiting any news on Kieran Tierney’s potential return to the club. The Arsenal left-back has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic, but fans are clamoring for him to join the team sooner rather than later.
With Greg Taylor currently the only recognized left-back at the club, following the termination of Alex Valle’s loan spell from Barcelona, Celtic’s defensive frailties were exposed in their recent match against Aston Villa. This has led some fans to call for Tierney’s immediate introduction, with some even suggesting that he could be deployed in midfield.
However, former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan has poured cold water on this idea, stating that it “goes against everything” that Brendan Rodgers stands for. Allan, who played for Celtic between 2015 and 2019, believes that Tierney’s skills are best utilized in his traditional left-back role.
“No, it just goes against everything and the way Brendan Rodgers plays,” said Allan. “Celtic work off a system, in a structure, players who play in there need to receive the ball in a certain type of way to then get the better players, who are forward up the pitch, into attacking areas.
“That’s how Celtic play. That’s how Brendan Rodgers plays. You have played left-back and centre-back your whole career. All the way through the academy, at Celtic, Arsenal and Real Sociedad. You can’t just then go into midfield and think your 360 vision and start receiving the ball the same way these midfielders have played their whole careers. It just doesn’t happen, whether you can put in a tackle or not.”
Allan’s comments highlight the complexities of Celtic’s playing style and the importance of deploying players in their traditional roles. While Tierney’s versatility is undoubtedly an asset, it seems unlikely that Rodgers would consider playing him in midfield, at least not in the immediate future.
In the short term, Celtic appear to have addressed their left-back conundrum by bringing in Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace. The 32-year-old is capable of playing in a variety of roles, including left-back, and is expected to provide cover for Taylor in the coming weeks.
As the transfer window draws to a close, Celtic fans will be eagerly awaiting any further developments on Tierney’s potential return. While it seems unlikely that he will join the team before the summer, his eventual arrival is expected to be a major boost to Rodgers’ squad.