Kieran Tierney can join Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Andy Murray in my pantheon of heroes

Scotland defender is blossoming at Arsenal

Kieran Tierney in action during the UEFA Nations League match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park, on September 04, 2020. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Friends of mine are continually going on about the problems that come with advanced years.

I try to cheer them up by telling them that there is one good thing about old age.

“What is that”, they ask.

“It disnae last that long”, I reply with a cheeky grin.

Strangely enough my answer seldom has them jumping for joy and so I then recommend to them what works for me when I need to lift my spirits.

What I do is think about my sporting heroes.

Over the years this has unfailingly brought comfort and solace to me when the going got tough.

These heroes need not always be from football and I must give credit to Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, John McEnroe and Andy Murray for stepping up to the plate when called on.

And just now Rory McIlroy is doing not a bad job.

But, in truth, the system works best when the heroes are from football and the efficacy is further improved if they are Scottish footballers.

This is not to belittle the good work done by players such as Lionel Messi, CristianoRonaldo and Thierry Henry.

I have been well served by Scottish legends such as Sandy Jardine, Pat Stanton and Kenny Dalglish but just now I am struggling to find a Scot deserving of joining that esteemed company.

When at Hibs, John McGinn was almost there but now that he is at Aston Villa I am having second thoughts, although I would wish to reassure him that he has not yet been discarded – no, not by any means.

The most likely candidate now is Kieran Tierney who is blossoming at Arsenal – my favourite English team. It is a lot of responsibility to put on his young shoulders but if he continues to improve he could well join that elite band known as “Terry’s Heroes”.

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