KIERAN TIERNEY joked he would be happy to have as many shots in his career as Tommy Gemmell, one of his predecessors as Celtic left-back, managed goals.
Gemmell, who died last Thursday aged 73, scored 63 goals in a 10-year career at Celtic Park, two of them in European Cup finals.
Tierney shares much in common with Gemmell. Their boyhood homes were within a mile or two of each other in Motherwell and Wishaw and both made their name as overlapping left-backs.
But the 19-year-old – who was born almost exactly 30 years after Gemmell scored in Celtic’s European Cup triumph in Lisbon – doubts he will ever come close to his fellow full-back’s goal tally.
“Obviously it’s a very sad loss for Celtic Football Club as a whole, but he is a legend who will live here forever,” said Tierney, who has scored twice for the club since making his senior debut two years ago.
“He was a full-back and he grew up in the same area as me so I can relate to him a lot. You always idolise Celtic people like him.
“There’s only one clip you need to watch from him and it’s inspirational. He was a top, top player, he is a legend at this club and he always will be.
“Somebody said he scored 63 goals or something. If I get 63 shots in my career I will be happy.”
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