---
title: "Celtic: Kieran Tierney nearing fitness but future remains unclear, says Neil Lennon"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-kieran-tierney-nearing-fitness-but-future-remains-unclear-says-neil-lennon/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-08-07T19:35:38Z"
modified: "2019-08-07T19:35:38Z"
---

# Celtic: Kieran Tierney nearing fitness but future remains unclear, says Neil Lennon

**Celtic manager Neil Lennon has said that defender Kieran Tierney is close to returning from injury but does not know if he will remain at the club this season.**

The [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-lennon-provides-kieran-tierney-18854144) reported that the 22-year-old left-back had not travelled with the Celtic squad for the Champions League qualifier against CFR Cluj in Romania, adding that Arsenal were lining up a third bid for the player before tomorrow’s English Premier League transfer deadline.

The [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-lennon-provides-kieran-tierney-18854144) quoted Lennon as saying: “I know these deals can get done at a minute to 12. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t another offer for Kieran, but delighted.

“He’ll be fit in a week or two. He still has some abductor pain, but I think the pubic problem is starting to settle and he’s over the double hernia.”

According to [Herald Scotland](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17768158.celtic-return-hold-kieran-tierney-old-injury-problem-rears-head/), Tierney underwent a double hernia operation at the start of the summer and had felt continuing pain from inflammation around his pubic bone.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Tierney has been a core presence for Celtic in recent years, racking up [170 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kieran-tierney/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/300716) for the club before his [22nd birthday in June](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kieran-tierney/profil/spieler/300716).

In every season from 2015/16 to 2017/18, he was included in the [PFA Scotland Team of the Year](https://www.celticfc.net/news/14301) and was named [PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year](https://www.celticfc.net/news/14301) and [Celtic Young Player of the Year](https://www.celticfc.net/news/14266).

Over the last two seasons, he has [scored five goals and provided 17 assists in 95 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kieran-tierney/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/300716), averaging 0.05 goals and 0.18 assists per game.

His absence through injury left Lennon short on left-back cover earlier this summer, but the [arrival of Boli Bolingoli in early July](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16401) remedied that pressing transfer need.

The 24-year-old Belgian has [played in all five of Celtic’s competitive matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/leistungsdaten/spieler/168156) so far this season, [starting at left-back in four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/leistungsdaten/spieler/168156) and [playing a roving wide midfield role in the 5-0 win over Nomme Kalju](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/leistungsdaten/spieler/168156) two weeks ago (via Transfermarkt).

Bolingoli has [not registered a goal contribution thus far](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/leistungsdaten/spieler/168156) in the embryonic stages of his Celtic career, but he has been described by [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/boli-bolingoli-could-celtic-greatest-16673458)‘s Jonathan McFarlane as “[explosive going forward](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/boli-bolingoli-could-celtic-greatest-16673458)” with pace to burn.

However, [McFarlane also noted](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/boli-bolingoli-could-celtic-greatest-16673458) Bolingoli’s lack of positional awareness in leaving gaps at the back, as well as a tendency to cough up possession cheaply.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

While Bolingoli certainly seems like an exciting arrival judging by his early season form, Tierney appears to provide more defensive solidity while also contributing effectively in attack. Celtic conceded only [10 goals in the 20 Premiership games in which he played](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kieran-tierney/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/300716/plus/0/saison/2018/wettbewerb/SC1/verein/371) last season, an astonishingly low figure.

At least Bolingoli looks like a good alternative if Tierney ends up being lured to Arsenal, but the extraordinary progress made by the Scotland left-back so early in his career, and the experience he has accrued, is not something that Celtic should relinquish now after resisting Arsenal’s overtures for so long.

***Celtic fans, do you think Tierney will stay at the club this season? Let us know your views in the comments section below!***