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Kieran Tierney takes Collins compliment in his stride

According to Celtic assistant John Collins (below), Kieran Tierney (above) is playing "like a £5million full-back" 
According to Celtic assistant John Collins (below), Kieran Tierney (above) is playing "like a £5million full-back"  According to Celtic assistant John Collins (below), Kieran Tierney (above) is playing "like a £5million full-back" 

CELTIC left-back Kieran Tierney is not thinking of himself as a £5million player after being given the mantle by assistant manager John Collins.

Collins stated last week that the 18-year-old was "playing like a £5million full-back". But the teenager, who has made 10 first-team appearances, said: "I don't tend to think like that at all. I just try to stay quiet, keep my head down and keep working hard.

"It was obviously a great compliment. It doesn't come around often. John was the same kind of player, left-footed and quite small, so he is a good person to look up to and a good person at training. He helps me a lot. So I'm happy he gave me it.

"I don't tend to look at the papers all the time, but sometimes it's unavoidable, some people tell me. A lot of the positive feedback I've been getting is good for the confidence."

Tierney was speaking at Hampden after watching Celtic drawn against Stranraer in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup. And he hopes he can return to the Scottish national stadium to lift the trophy in May.

"I've been to a few cups finals and we've won," he said.

"So as a fan, it's been great for me. Hopefully as a player, it can be great for me too. You dream it can be you, but you never think it's going to happen. It's down to all the boys to make it happen and go to Hampden again.

"It would be brilliant. It's the same as Parkhead, you are at Parkhead as a fan and you dream of playing there and Hampden is a great stadium and you dream of playing there as well."

Celtic will first need to negotiate a trip to Stair Park in the second week of January: "It's different," Tierney said.

"You don't know what to expect. It's an away tie and it's quite a distance, so we need to go there prepared."