Mark Devlin 
Michael Steele/Getty Images Sport
Kieran Tierney put in yet another fine display on Sunday night as Scotland defeated Slovenia 1-0 to keep their 2018 World Cup hopes alive.
The 19-year-old was given the rare task of starting out at right-back, with Hull City’s Andrew Robertson being chosen to start from out on the left.
Manager Gordon Strachan was so impressed with young Tierney’s performance that he compared him to former Celtic defender Danny McGrain, who played as a right-back for his club yet a left-back for his country.
Speaking to the Evening Times, Strachan spoke of the Hoops defender’s tremendous ability and his reasons for starting him out on the right.
He said:
The boys have been calling him Danny McGrain for the last few days.
When I told him what I was going to do he said: ‘No problem’. A lot of players have moved from right back to left back over the years, but I didn’t think it should be any different going the other way.
There are loads of the guys who have gone to the other side, but when you have got two players like that you have to try and play them both. You have to try and get your best players on the pitch.
I had it in my mind for ages and I didn’t want to change because I knew what they (Slovenia) were like on the physical side and how they would attack through the middle.
Midfielder Stuart Armstrong was granted his first cap for the senior national team and was awarded the man of the match award for his superb performance.
Craig Gordon, Scott Brown, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths were all starters in the crucial win at Hampden too.
It’s back to club duty now, with Brendan Rodgers’ side looking to wrap up the League title with a win away to Hearts this Sunday and Tierney will likely return to a more familiar left-back position.
