Kieran Tierney enjoyed centre-back '˜challenge'

Kieran Tierney showed again that he has more than one string to his bow in Scotland's tumultuous 2-2 draw with England at Hampden Park on Saturday.
Kieran Tierney played at centre-back forn Scotland. Picture: SNS/Craig WilliamsonKieran Tierney played at centre-back forn Scotland. Picture: SNS/Craig Williamson
Kieran Tierney played at centre-back forn Scotland. Picture: SNS/Craig Williamson

The Celtic left-back was moved to right-back for the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Slovenia at the national stadium in March.

As manager Gordon Strachan tried a different approach against the unbeaten Group F leaders, the 20-year-old was asked to play in a back three alongside Charlie Mulgrew and Christophe Berra.

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Tierney turned in a fine performance, including a goal-line clearance to deny Three Lions’ skipper Harry Kane, who eventually popped up with an injury-time leveller, after two Leigh Griffiths free-kicks has overturned an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain strike.

“I tried to do my best,” he said. “Being told you are playing centre-back and you have not done it too many times, it is obviously hard. But it is something I enjoy.

“It was a new challenge, just like the last time when I was right-back. I like new challenges so it was good.

“The last five minutes was a roller coaster, obviously Griff’s great two free-kicks and the sucker punch at the end which left us gutted.

“But I think we can be proud of the effort we put in.”

Tierney admitted the immediate aftermath felt like the Scots had suffered a defeat but conceded that time may lend a different interpretation to a result which kept Scotland six points behind leaders England, three behind Slovenia and four behind Slovakia, with four fixtures remaining.

“I hope it is the case because the boys put everything into it,” he said.

“We trained all week and everyone in the squad gave 100 per cent against England, so it was good that way.

“We will get on with it and look forward to the remaining games in the group.”