Celtic fans are counting down the days until Kieran Tierney is in their colours again.
As of this moment, Tierney is helping Arsenal beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, but he returns to where it all started in the summer.
Yes, the boyhood Celtic fan has had his injury issues, but he is still at the peak of his powers and has also been injury-free for months and months now.
But Tierney can’t do it all on his own next season, and it’s going to be interesting to see what Brendan Rodgers does with that left-back spot.
As of this moment, Jeffrey Schlupp is the starter, but he is on a loan deal and nobody knows if he will be at the club next season.
Then you have somebody like Greg Taylor, who will leave in the summer, so who will be the back-up, and will the powers that be bring anyone else in, apart from Tierney?!
Andy Walker would like Celtic to go down a road, they simply won’t go down.
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty ImagesCeltic’s left-back options next season amid Kieran Tierney’s return
You are seeing a common theme of, players from the academy, not just in Scotland, but in England as well, not getting a chance to really showcase their worth in the first team.
That’s because of the money in today’s game, and in some cases, the pressure on that certain club.
Walker would like Celtic to bring in a left-back, from within, to challenge Tierney, but he thinks they simply ‘aren’t allowed to’, mainly because of the pressure, as he told Go Radio.
“When you look at next season, the number one left-back will be Kieran Tierney,” said Walker.
“Whilst we are on the theme of it. It would be great if they promoted someone from their academy. From the reserves. From a Lowland team. I don’t know who the left-back is there.
“But it used to be the case that you might get an opportunity, but maybe not now. You have to be the finished article and you aren’t allowed to develop, or maybe you aren’t given the opportunity to develop.”
How Celtic can improve next season if they win the Treble this term
Yes, Celtic were deservedly beaten by St Johnstone on Sunday, but they will want to put that right for the Scottish Cup semi-final.
With the Premiership title almost wrapped up, it puts Scotland’s most successful club on course to secure another Treble under Rodgers.
How can a team improve on such a high? Walker feels beating Rangers ‘more often’ is the only way forward; that’s how high the bar has been set.
“What are the demands at Celtic?” asked Walker. “I mean it’s almost to win a Treble, and to do well in Europe. How can Celtic improve upon this season, if they do get another Treble?
“The only way they can improve next season is to beat Rangers more often. Rangers have been the big disappointment. Losing twice to them.”