Hartson: Celtic favourite who ‘has everything’ reminds me of legendary England captain

Tue 1 May 2018 16:13, UK

John Hartson believes that Celtic full-back Kieran Tieney is similar to former England captain and Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce.

Hartson, writing in his column in the Evening Times, believes that the 20-year-old has all the attributes needed to become a huge success in the game, similar to Pearce, who had a highly successful career in England, winning 78 caps for the national side as well as taking the captain’s armband.

“He reminds me very much of a young Stewart Pearce. He has everything; pace, athleticism, strength, he can cross, he can score, he can defend” Hartson said.

“Physically he has really worked since he first broke into the Celtic team to work on his stamina and on his strength and he has got the rewards for that.”

Tierney might not yet have the ability to score with a blistering free-kick that Pearce had, but he is more than capable of a vicious strike, as was proven with his goal of the season winner against Kilmarnock, and he has been a mainstay for the Hoops this season with 52 appearances in another highly successful season.

The defender has become a firm fan favourite at Parkhead and recently made history when he was named as Scotland’s young player of the year for the third season in a row, a feat which had never been achieved in the 40 year history of the award.

Football Insider verdict

If Tierney goes on to have as successful and lengthy a career that Pearce, he will no doubt be more than content, but the Celtic is so good that he has the ability to do more than Pearce and become one of the best full-backs that Britain has ever produced. He has the talent and is already consistent, and will only get better as he gets older. Of course, the worry for Hoops fans is that Tierney might well spend some of his best years away from the club, at a team like Manchester United or Tottenham, but for now fans should just enjoy the fact that they have got to watch such a special player thrive in the last few years at Celtic Park.