Scotland’s Kieran Tierney ‘feared the worst’ after knee injury with Arsenal put Euro 2020 in doubt

Scotland’s Kieran Tierney ‘feared the worst’ after knee ligament injury with Arsenal put Euro 2020 dream in doubt – and is embracing centre-back role even if it ‘does not come naturally’

  • Tierney suffered the injury in April, two months before the tournament’s start 
  • At first the 24-year-old was expected to be out for between four to six weeks
  • That length of time on the sidelines could have put his tournament at heavy risk 
  • But he returned to action for Arsenal relatively quickly, just over a month later
  • Tierney also discussed moving from left-back to accommodate Andy Robertson 

Kieran Tierney has revealed he ‘feared the worst’ after suffering a knee injury with Arsenal just two months before Euro 2020. 

The Gunners star limped out of their game against Liverpool on April 3 with knee ligament damage and was initially expected to be out for four to six weeks, but he recovered well and was playing matches again about a month later.

And the former Celtic defender told Sky Sports the injury had genuinely put his Euro 2020 future in doubt.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney (left) revealed a knee injury put his Euro 2020 future in doubt

But the Scotland left-back recovered well and is set to feature in this summer's tournament

But the Scotland left-back recovered well and is set to feature in this summer’s tournament

He said: ‘When I got injured, I feared the worst. I feared my season was over. But I worked hard, I worked very hard to get back. I played a European semi-final four-and-half weeks after which is a great recovery time for the injury that I had.

‘Usually, it would be about six weeks. But to get so many games in before coming out with Scotland is going to benefit me hopefully.’

Tierney, 24, traditionally a marauding left-back, is mainly used by Scotland as a left centre-back to accommodate captain Andy Robertson at left wing-back, and the 20-cap international opened up on the difficulties of the positional switch.

The Gunners star has also admitted playing left centre-back 'does not come naturally' to him

The Gunners star has also admitted playing left centre-back ‘does not come naturally’ to him

He added: ‘I am enjoying it a lot. It is the most consistent I have been in the squad and playing since my debut. I am working hard on it. Obviously, it doesn’t come too natural for me to play centre-back as I have been high and wide my full career.

‘But it is something I have been willing to do for the team. I kind of know when I come with Scotland that I will be playing out of position, so it is basically getting used to it.’

Steve Clarke’s side, currently at a training camp in Spain to prepare for the tournament, face Luxembourg on Sunday in their last match before the tournament.