The Hoops full-back will need a double hernia operation and will be unavailable for Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifying games next month.
Kieran Tierney has declared himself fit for Celtic’s Scottish Cup final against Hearts on Saturday but confirmed that he will miss Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium.
The highly rated Hoops defender has been struggling with injury for much of the season and will need a double hernia operation at the end of the campaign, ruling him out of Steve Clarke’s first game as Scotland boss and the follow-up.
Tierney – who played more minutes than any other top flight outfield player in Europe last term – last played for Neil Lennon’s side on 4 May, the day the Parkhead club clinched their eighth successive Scottish Premiership title, in the game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The 21-year-old has made 40 appearances in all competitions for Celtic this term but seldom featured between the middle of December and February due to the injury, originally thought to have been his hip.
“You’re frustrated, you want to go and make an impression,” Tierney is quoted by BBC Sport as saying. “But I need to think of myself long-term as well and the best thing is to get the operation as soon as I can.”
Here is what some Celtic fans on Twitter made of Tierney’s comments:
Scotland sit fifth in Euro 2020 qualifying Group I, having lost to Kazakhstan and narrowly beaten San Marino in their opening two matches, with ex-Kilmarnock boss Clarke set to name his first squad next week.
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