Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic from Arsenal could hand Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada a massive boost.
As reported by Gooner Talk, the 27-year-old is out of contract this summer and is set to make an emotional return to his spiritual home.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Tierney will definitely join Celtic this summer, although the club hopes to secure his services during the current transfer window.
Tierney has failed to force his way back into the first-team since returning to the squad after injury and Rodgers is waiting to welcome him back to Parkhead.
“He's still, at this moment, an Arsenal player,” Rodgers told the BBC. "I think we're agreed that it will definitely take place in the summer. If we can do it beforehand, then great.
"I don't want to speak too much on it with the greatest respect, because he's not a Celtic player here now with us.
“But, if we were able to do it, of course, we would like to do that, but that's out of our control at this moment in time."
With Tierney’s Arsenal exit confirmed, fans of Celtic and the national team will be eagerly awaiting his return to Scottish Premiership action.
Tierney was a standout performer during his first stint with the club, helping them win numerous trophies after breaking into the first-team as a teenager.
The defender’s impressive performances earned him a move to Arsenal, where he won an FA Cup winners’ medal during his first season with the club.
However, after suffering a serious knee injury during the 2021/22 season, Tierney struggled to reproduce the form he had previously shown.
Tierney spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Real Sociedad, but further injuries limited the impact he made in Spain and he returned to Arsenal last summer.
He was named in Scotland's squad for the 2024 European Championship in Germany, and started the opening match against the hosts at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Tierney retained his place for the second group game against Switzerland, but was substituted after suffering an injury in the 61st minute.
He missed the final match against Hungary and did not feature in any of Scotland’s subsequent six matches in the Nations League.
Arsenal welcomed the Scottish international back to training on November 21, but manager Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he no longer views him as part of his plans.
While Tierney will be disappointed about his injury-hit spell with Arsenal, his move back to Scotland could be the catalyst for a revival in his fortunes.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke will be hoping he makes an immediate impact with Celtic so he can recall him to the squad for the World Cup qualifying campaign.
They have been drawn into a four-team group alongside Greece, Belarus and the defeated side in the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark.
Having Tierney available will be a boost to Scotland’s qualification hopes, although they may need to navigate through the play-offs to book a place at the tournament.
Tierney will be desperate for his return to Celtic to be a positive move and one which allows him to show why he was so highly rated before he headed to the Premier League.