Celtic kicked off their Scottish Premiership title defence with a narrow but important win over Dundee, and it was a familiar face who made the decisive contribution.
Kieran Tierney provided the pinpoint cross that allowed Benjamin Nygren to head home the winner from six yards out, settling a tough opening night contest.
Nygren, last season’s top scorer, got the headline goal, but it was Tierney’s delivery that truly unlocked a stubborn Dundee defensive setup.
The left-back has arguably been Celtic’s best player since Martin O’Neill returned to the club in January, yet his remarkable form has gone somewhat under the radar.
Perhaps the lack of fanfare stems from the fact that supporters simply expect excellence from a player who once commanded a reported £25m move to Arsenal.
Tierney registered 12 assists last season, the most of any Celtic player, and also contributed six goals from the left-back position across the campaign.
Against Dundee, he had more shots on target than any Celtic team-mate, created four chances, and sent in eight crosses, more than anyone else on the pitch.
“He looked like old Kieran Tierney. He was bombing forward, getting in the box, had a couple shots on goal, doing all his defensive stuff, he was excellent,” said BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English.
Only Falkirk’s Calvin Miller, now at Hearts, registered more assists across the entire league last season, underlining just how influential Tierney remains at the top level.
Defensively, he consistently ranks among the best full-backs in Scotland for tackling, clearances, and shot-blocking, combining defensive solidity with genuine attacking threat.
Despite ongoing talk of managing his minutes carefully, only three full-backs in the entire league played more than Tierney last season, though he played the full 90 minutes on just 10 occasions.
Manager O’Neill was effusive in his praise for both Tierney and captain Callum McGregor, making clear how central they are to everything Celtic do.
“Those players are the football club,” O’Neill said of Tierney and McGregor. “They are the backbone of Celtic, and I’m delighted to have them.”
With on-loan left-back Marcelo Sarrachi having returned to parent club Boca Juniors, Celtic currently have no other senior cover in that position, making Tierney’s role even more critical.
“Of course [it’s important to bring in cover for Tierney], that’s something we’re looking at,” O’Neill told BBC Scotland, adding that Tierney “will not get through every single game.”
Reports emerged that Spanish side Osasuna have enquired about Tierney, though Celtic are expected to reject any approach for the 29-year-old without hesitation.
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown moved quickly to dismiss any suggestion that Tierney could be heading for the exit door this summer.
“Kieran’s going nowhere, he loves the football club,” Brown said on Sportsound, also highlighting Tierney’s quality as a key reason why bigger clubs continue to show interest.
“You can see why he went down to Arsenal. Other teams will want that, and Celtic are lucky to have these three [Tierney, McGregor and James Forrest] for that long a period,” Brown added.
Brown also reserved warm words for McGregor, who impressed in the opening league fixture and appears refreshed after retiring from international duty with Scotland.
