Kieran Tierney in Real Sociedad injury boost with Arsenal star's next step music to Steve Clarke's ears

Kieran Tierney is back on the injury return trail and it's great news for Steve Clarke and Scotland.

The Arsenal star made the ambitious switch from London to Real Sociedad on a season-long loan after falling down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates. The former Celtic man has had a tough start to life in San Sebastian with a lengthy injury suffered. Tierney was ruled out for a number of weeks and has managed just four appearances for Imanol Alguacil's men while the 26-year-old also missed the climactic end to Scotland's Euro 2024 campaign that saw a party ahead of next year's finals commence.

But according to Estadio Deportivo, Tierney is on his way to a comeback and expected is to "exercise normally" during Sociedad training before the weekend's clash with Sevilla. The report states it has been a "long time" since the flying Scotsman was seen on the training field and that has "barely" allowed the defender to show his boss that he's a real option in La Liga.

It comes with Clarke beginning to assess who he will name in his elite 23-man squad for next year's finals in Germany after fielding 29 throughout the campaign that saw us book our ticket for the Euros. In recent games the likes of Greg Taylor have taken the place on injured Tierney and skipper Andy Robertson, and with the former Celtic man back on the grass it will be music to the ears of the boss.