Mark Devlin 
Michael Steele/Getty Images Sport
Defender Kieran Tierney is determined to return to action after suffering ankle ligament damage in training which put him out of action for around two months.
The young full-back has been superb for the Hoops this season, both domestically and in the Champions League, linking-up well with new arrivals like Scott Sinclair in his 19 appearances so far this season and has a team high seven assists this season.
Speaking to Celtic TV about his set-back, the 19-year-old said:
It was just ankle ligament damage from an accident in training. It was nobody’s fault, I just went over on my ankle so it’s disappointing but I’ll get on with it. Ideal time would be after New Year, that’d be a another half-season for me.
The operation went well. I broke my leg two years ago and it was the same surgeon that did it so I had good faith in him. Recovery has gone well so far. There’s not much I can do just now, just a bit of upper body, but I’m just looking forward to getting off these crutches and be out and start running again.
It’s just the way it happens in football, especially the way I go into tackles, so I know I’m going to get injuries sometimes and it’s just about how you deal with it. I think that says a lot about your character if you can come back from something like this.
Tierney may be down, but he’s certainly not out. This isn’t the first time he’s suffered a set-back like this in his rather short career, so he’ll no doubt be focused fully on getting back to full fitness.
The academy graduate is expected to return around the time of New Year as he revealed, enabling him to get fit and regain his confidence for the second half of the season.
Already a favourite among fans, it’s fair to say that the Scottish international has the backing of the full Celtic support.
The Hoops are away to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this coming Friday and look to keep up their Premiership unbeaten run, as well as stretch their run of domestic clean-sheets to seven games.
