MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 18:49:12| >> :60:3053:3053:

Brendan Rodgers tips Kieran Tierney for bright future at Arsenal

Kieran Tierney departed for Arsenal for £25million in August, six months after Brendan Rodgers left Celtic for Leicester.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has no doubt former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney will find his feet and make an impact at Arsenal.

On Saturday at the King Power Stadium, Rodgers and Tierney will be on opposing sides for the first time since the ex-Bhoys manager departed Celtic Park for Leicester last February and with the player now at Arsenal following a £25million move in August.

Rodgers has nothing but praise for Tierney as he said: "As a player, in the first week working with him, I could see after two or three days why there was a lot of clamour for him.

"From that moment he was absolutely brilliant for me. He became stronger, more powerful, very aggressive in his game.

"He worked hard every single day but he was also a strong boy mentally, and he had a lot of good mentors. Scott Brown was an incredible captain for me, and he (Tierney) took on that mantle to try and be like him.

"Every day in training he was very focused on becoming better, and obviously he loved Celtic as a club. He supported the club, and that gave him that extra one per cent every time he played.

"So as a player he was fantastic, and he captained the team for me on a few occasions as well, but also a great boy, very humble, just wanting to be the very best he can be."

Arsenal's move for Tierney was three years in the making as they approached Celtic for the now 22-year-old in Rodgers' first week in charge of the club in May 2016.

"Peter (Lawwell, chief executive) had said to me – and he was very honest about it – there was a possibility of Kieran going to Arsenal, but there was no rush for Celtic to sell him, and there was a big offer at the time," added Rodgers.

"So I spoke to Kieran, told him I wanted him to stay, to be a big part of what we were doing, and between him and the club, a new deal was agreed, and he stayed until he went in the summer.

"He's gone into Arsenal, a really competitive team and a huge club, and it takes that little bit of time to settle.

"He's gone from one big city to another, leaving behind his family and friends in Glasgow, so it's been a period of adaptation for him.

"I've got no doubt he will do very, very well in his time."

Rodgers, meanwhile, has hailed James Maddison as "a big talent", with the midfielder again called into the England squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.

It is the fourth time Maddison has been called up, although on the last occasion he blotted his copybook as he was spotted in a casino shortly after withdrawing, citing illness.

Rodgers said: "He is a fantastic player and a wonderful talent who is improving and getting better all the time.

"He is working very hard, for Leicester first and foremost, and then ultimately to take a place in the England squad.

"He will do his very best for Leicester, and then when he does well, he reports (for England) and he can do no more."

ID:377848: cacheID:377848:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4528:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal's Granit Xhaka reacts after being substituted on October 27, 2019
Read Next:
Arsenal injury, suspension list vs. Leicester
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!