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Scotland is in all sorts of hot water at the moment.
Everybody knows about the endless search for a new manager after the departure of Gordon Strachan. Names have been thrown around, but nothing new has came to the surface in the hunt.
Celtic’s own Scott Brown decided to hang the boots in international football. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before Brown’s Scotland reality hit, and continued failures only set in a norm for the skipper.
Speaking of captain, the armband must be up for grabs at Scotland which is probably the case for a soup of other positions. It’s anybody’s for the taking, but no other player should be considered more than Kieran Tierney.
The left-back’s status at Celtic shouldn’t have to be described. A world class player at heart, and Tierney is completely dedicated to Glasgow.
The 20-year-old has four goals and nine assists from his position, which is good for more than a good portion of the Bhoys’ squad. The goal-tally is incredible to think about from Tierney’s defensive, yet all-around capabilities.
Tierney impacts the whole pitch. Making runs down the wing is his weapon, and from there, he virtually does it all. The Evening Times so eloquently describes Tierney’s play when saying:
"I won’t be the only one who has seen that he has all the attributes of a top modern day player – he has the athleticism, the strength, the ability, he can attack, he can defend, he can cross a ball, he can score."
There’s so much more that can be said about the young prospect. He glows with potential and it shows by all of the early accolades he’s already accumulated. Most notably, Tierney featured alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar in the Champions League best XI for the group stage.
Tierney really is that good. There’s no doubt in my mind that he is the best player in Scotland right now, and it probably will stay that way for a long time.
Sure, he does great things for the Celts, but can he transition it to the national team?
Tierney has flown through the ranks of Scotland by progressing through U-18 and U-19 teams in a matter of games. This past campaign, the Douglas native saw nine games in the World Cup Qualification process, along with a couple of international friendlies.
Some can argue that he has yet to produce, so why give him the armband? The claim stands true right now; Tierney did not produce a goal or assist in any fixture during the last campaign.
The best counterclaim that applies for all of Scotland is to think of what happens down the line. Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson has already shown signs of potential in what some call the world’s most competitive league.
To think that in a few years that Scotland could have some serious skill at the wide positions is exciting. Tierney’s skill progresses the stature of the back-line as fans have seen so many times at Paradise.
The defender has already worn the armband with Celtic, which is an astonishing feat for someone of that age. Of all the history and success that the Hoops have had, Tierney possessed the leadership qualities and skill to prove that he’s a worthy skipper. A true warrior at a young age.
All across international sports, the captain goes to one of or if not the best player in the country. It could happen young with a player like Canada’s Sidney Crosby in hockey for example, or it can show in the latter stages of a career.
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The skill inspires others to move forward, and the leadership qualities quickly follow. Tierney, again at 20-years of age, possess both of those traits.
Giving KT the armband now can help Scotland take that next step into the future. All of the factors line up, and it only seems like a matter of time before it turns into reality.
A player with Tierney’s talent needs to be recognized on a national level. Just like so many other countries in the world, the captain is the best-of-the-best in that nation. The same can be said about Tierney, and what better time for Scotland to hand out the armband to such a young and promising player.
Next: Two new candidates for Scotland’s manager job
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