There is every chance Kieran Tierney will pull on a Celtic shirt again – and not just for a veterans five-a-side kickabout.
But Celtic should forget about the former hero coming back for now and concentrate on making sure the current left-back sticks around a little longer. The Tierney stuff is never far away. In the last couple of seasons there has been constant talk of a Parkhead return and it’s about to go into overdrive now the Scotland full-back is getting back to fitness following his absence since the summer.
Whether he gets back into the Arsenal team is another matter. It looks like his days at the Emirates are numbered and no doubt there will be more talk in January about a possible reunion in Glasgow’s East End. Listen, if Tierney gets to the end of the window and he’s still not in the Gunners team or sorted out for a loan move, then there’s every chance Celtic could step in and offer him a chance to rebuild at home.
But there will be plenty of clubs in England either willing to borrow the 27-year-old or stump up to give him a permanent deal. He still has 18 months left on his Arsenal contract so you would think a six-month stint at another Premier League outfit with a view to a three-year deal would make plenty of sense.
As for coming back across the border? That might be heart ruling the head stuff but you wouldn’t put it past a player who isn’t one to put pound signs ahead of personal pride. Tierney has also suffered so many injuries he might not be that confident of being able to return in his early 30s and still do the same job. Either way, it’s a wait and see job for all parties.
In the meantime, Celtic really should be sorting out one situation that is within their power – getting Greg Taylor tied up on a new deal. The clock is ticking with the left-back and he can talk to other clubs after the New Year. Again, it might be that Taylor fancies a new challenge.
He could probably walk into any side in the English Championship at least and, at 27 years old and with a family to look after, he might have the chance to make a few quid. He can do that at Celtic as well – and it would save him having to hire a removal van. Taylor is something of an unsung hero at the club and too often is taken for granted by supporters who tend to get more excited by players with exotic sounding names.
Wee Greg fae Greenock is every bit as good as any of them who have been and gone over the years and he deserves to be rewarded. Alex Valle is the latest shiny new toy and he even has the sexy CV given the 20-year-old is on the books at Barcelona.
The youngster has impressed at times and lightened the load on Taylor, who has had to shoulder the left-back burden on his tod for a couple of seasons. But when it comes to the crunch and the big games come around who would get the nod?
We’ll find out at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup Final against Rangers in a few weeks – but you wouldn’t bet against Taylor being the main man that day. He has been a vital part of the Hoops game-plan under Brendan Rodgers and has adapted superbly to whatever task he has been handed. Just look at his role in the second goal against RB Leipzig the other week, bombing forward, under-lapping, playing that inverted role, all things almost taken for granted.
Taylor might not be the next £25million man off the rank at Parkhead but it would cost a hefty chunk of money to replace him. Some might suggest Tierney could return if Taylor is allowed to go. But Celtic should sit tight and in 18 months they might have the pair of them to pick from.