Ruairi Daly 
Steve Welsh/Getty Images Sport
Kieran Tierney has hailed the experience of Celtic’s summer signing Kolo Toure ahead of their crucial Champions League tie.
The left-back is still on a steep learning curve at 19-years-old, despite being a very astute and regular play in the Celtic side over the past year.
The youngster has taken the place of Emilio Izaguirre, who occupied the role for the majority of his five seasons prior to Tierney’s break out from the academy.
As quoted by the Daily Express, he said:
Kolo is not arrogant at all. He’s the complete opposite to that – he couldn’t be more normal. He helps everyone, young and old, and is just a great player to have at Celtic.
Kolo is already a leader. His experience is second to none. He has been to a Champions League final, he knows how to play at this level.
It’s probably not easy playing alongside two young guys in me and Eoghan O’Connell and yet he helps us all the time.
Playing alongside the 35-year-old Ivorian on a weekly basis should help develop his own game for the future as one of Scotland’s finest prospects in a recent memory.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender and two-time Premier League winner  has been an ideal acquisition by Brendan Rodgers.
Speaking further about his new team-mate, Tierney added:
Kolo is brilliant. On his first day it was just the two of us training, and even then I could tell how experienced he was by the way he spoke to me.
The way he went about his fitness training, so dedicated, so committed, was brilliant to watch. From that day I knew he was a great guy to have in the team and in the dressing room.
The way he commands the team, how vocal he is, is really impressive. He has been a great signing.
Tierney broke into the Hoops squad under Ronny Deila and made 33 appearances last season, scoring his first professional goal at the club on the final day of last season against Motherwell.
Tonight Tierney will look to take another step forward in his career by helping Celtic qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time in three years.
In order to progress to Thursday’s draw, Celtic will need to maintain their healthy advantage over Hapoel Be’er Sheva in their second leg play-off tie in Israel.
Eric Knott 
