Kieran Tierney one of the 'best in the world' as team-mate admits Arsenal events were 'strange'

Stephen O’Donnell says Scotland have one of the best full-backs in the world, never mind Europe, in Kieran Tierney as the clock ticks down to the Euro 2024 opener in Germany on Friday.

The Scotland international, who represented his country at Euro 2020, is delighted to see the former Celtic defender back to full fitness after a stop-start year which saw him ruled out of the final qualifying games against Spain, Georgia and Norway - none of which they managed to win.

Tierney then picked up a thigh injury in April with Real Sociedad, where he was on loan from Arsenal, which threatened to derail his bid for the Euros.

However, the 27-year-old has managed to recover quickly and was back to his best in Friday night’s 2-2 draw with Finland at Hampden in what was Scotland’s final warm-up game before the big one in Munich.

And pal O’Donnell said: “Kieran, if he stays fit, is one of the best full-backs in the world, without question. He is a top player, a top guy and if he is playing we will certainly be a better outfit with him. He has great qualities.

“I still found it a bit strange what happened to him at Arsenal. Obviously, I wasn’t there, but he was one of their players of the year the season before and then he goes out on loan [to Sociedad].

“When he first broke through at Celtic he was incredible and to then move on and go where he’s been is great. At one point he was linked with Real Madrid and that was maybe a ‘what if’ moment if he managed to stay fit, but you can’t have everything. I’m honestly really delighted to see him back and see him going to the Euros. Hopefully we see him kick on.”

O’Donnell will have to watch on from home at this Euros after the thrill of representing his country at the Covid-delayed 2020