The £1m star has never played at left-back for Celtic, and could now replace Tierney

Celtic hit the jackpot when they decided to bring Kieran Tierney back to the club for a second time at Parkhead in the last summer transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers lured him back to Glasgow as a free agent after his contract with Premier League giants Arsenal expired last summer, six years after his £25m move from Celtic.

In his first spell with the club, the left-back came through the academy system and went on to win five Scottish Premiership titles with the first team before moving south.

Since his return, Tierney has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 47 games across all competitions, posing a major threat in the final third from left back.

However, players can face tough times and it may be time for Martin O’Neill to give the full-back a break against Falkirk on Saturday.

Why Celtic should drop Kieran Tierney against Falkirk

In Sunday’s 6-2 win over St Mirren in the SFA Cup semi-finals, the Scot found himself in a number of promising positions in the final third and failed to find the quality or shot or cross to make it count.

Before the Saints’ stunning win at Hampden Park, the left-footed defender had failed to get the ball to his feet in the last three Premiership games for the Hoops.

In those three games, Tierney lost 46 games without creating ‘big chances’ for his teammates or registering shots on target. Given his production throughout the season and the level he has, the quarterback should be lauded by those statistics.

The former Arsenal defender is not used to playing so many games in a season, however, as this is his first year of 40 or more games since leaving Celtic for Arsenal in 2019.

That is why the best move would be to drop him from the squad against Falkirk to allow him to rest and play again before the rest of the season.

Celtic’s wildcard option is Tierney at left-back

While Marcelo Saracchi, who came on against St Mirren at left-back, could be used in Tierney’s place, O’Neill could develop and release a star who has not played at left-back for the club before.

Luke McCowan has played almost exclusively in midfield or on the wings for the Hoops since his £1m move from Dundee in the summer of 2024, but he could be an interesting option at left-back.

He is not an out-and-out full-back who will go and win five tackles and make four times per game, but the Scottish ace has the composure and quality on the ball to add an extra edge to Celtic’s attack in that area.

Because Anthony Ralston, despite his goal against St Mirren, is not the most impressive right-back, playing McCowan at left-back would allow the Hoops to play a third-back position.

That would mean Ralston, Auston Trusty, and Liam Scales could act as full-backs in the build-up and McCowan could join Callum McGregor in midfield, which would help speed up how quickly the ball gets to the attacking players.

The former Dundee player, once described as a “match-winner” by professor Marvin Bartley, has not been rewarded with the assists he should have been in the Premiership this season, but his secret numbers show he can do well in football.

McCowan is always looking to play forward with the ball to create and score goals, which is why he could be an interesting replacement for Tierney, who has struggled this way of late.

He has not played at left-back for Scotland before, but putting him in a mixed position that would see him operate in midfield as well as at left-back could make him successful.

Therefore, O’Neill could find a clever way to drop Tierney from the bench by releasing McCowan into this new role against Falkirk on Saturday in the Premiership.

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