Kieran Tierney back to his Celtic best as Big Ben leaves travelling diehards gushing in Portugal

Daily Record

5 days ago

Celtic impressed in the Algarve to seal a 2-0 pre-season victory over Sporting CP
The Estadio Algarve has been the scene of a few rather embarrassing moments for the Scotland national set up over the years, writes Michael Gannon in Portugal.
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There was a dismal 2-0 win over the part-timers from Gibraltar in these parts, and before then we had the toe-curling Gordon Strachan giant celebration selfie after his Scots had beaten the minnows – even though we'd already slumped in our bid to make the Euros.
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But there were certainly no red faces for Celtic here amid the sea of green and white – apart from perhaps the sunburnt ones – as the Hoops secured an impressive win against a strong Sporting side.
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And after a cool start, Celts are starting to really warm up ahead of the new campaign.
Sporting were a huge step up in class in the pre-season ladder but Brendan Rodgers ' men were slick at times in the draining 30 degree heat.
Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan notched in the second period – but they should have been well ahead by half time against a team that featured £70m Man United target Morten Hjulmand and Portugal stars Pedro Gonclaves and Francisco Trincao.
Adam Idah missed a couple of sitters before limping off with an injury during the half-time warm down while Daizen Maeda also went close.
Kieran Tierney was bang in form and the travelling supporters were left gushing at the display of new Bhoy Benjamin Nygren.
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The Hoops did get ahead early in the second period after Hatate blasted his penalty through keeper Rui Silva after sub Johnny Kenny was clipped in the box.
And Kenny was involved for the second when he broke free to release McCowan and the midfielder showed a touch of class to find the bottom corner and come out on top in the battle of the Hoops.
Here are our five talking points from the Algarve.
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Strike it lucky
Shin Yamada is on the way and it's maybe a little nudge for Adam Idah. The big striker put in a shift here but might have had his shooting boots on the wrong feet.
Idah had a couple of chances he should have stuck in the net and it was just as well it was a bounce game and not the Champions League qualifier.
The first one he couldn't get his feet in order to meet Maeda's cutback but the second one was an even bigger opportunity when Kieran Tierney curled in a cross that landed on a plate. Idah made a bit of a meal of it though.
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The 24-year-old does know the way to goal and he hit 20 last term. It is still pre-season and he's not fully up to speed either.
But Idah has competition on the way and he'll need to be more clinical in the coming weeks.
In squad we trust
Celtic were more than decent in Faro and it looks like they are now going up through the pre-season gears as the club's main men got more than an hour in their legs.
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Yet there is still some obvious work required in the transfer market. Yamada will bolster the attack but Celts are well short in some key areas.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Paulo Bernardo will return in the next week or so and boost the group.
But Rodgers is crying out for some first team ready reinforcements in the wide areas and elsewhere in the side.
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Young centre back Dane Murray had a cracking night at the back and might have more of a role this coming season.
But Tierney will need back-up too and it remains to be seen if Yamada is going to be the Kyogo replacement.
Celtic are in a strong position – but they do need to make moves.
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KT and the Sunshine Band
Celtic fans got their first look of Tierney again in the flesh – and the defender got a heck of a welcome.
Supporters – who'd either hopped over for the game or were taking it in during their summer hols – gave him a huge roar when he stepped on to the pitch in the Algarve.
They would also have been impressed with his performance. There's no doubt Tierney was a tad rusty at the weekend but he was much more like his old self here.
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There were some trademark bombing runs up the flank and typical full pelt challenges. There was also a belter of a cross for one of Idah's big first half chances.
It was like he'd never been away.
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Schmeichel back with a bang
Speaking of returns Celtic's great Dane got his first taste of pre-season – and there were no signs of any rust.
Schmeichel was given extra time off after the June international but was back in solid form between the sticks.
There were a couple of smart saves during his 45 minutes on the pitch and punters could hear him roaring on his teammates as usual.
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Forget about that gaff in the Scottish Cup Final, Schmeichel is still the main man for Celts.
Big Ben chimes in
Benjamin Nygren was handed his first start – and he really looked the part. The Sweden attacker slotted into the right side of midfield but he had license to roam and cause problems for Sporting.
It worked a treat as he was heavily involved in a lot of the good stuff from Celts going forward.
A slick through ball sent Daizen Maeda in behind early and there was some terrific link-up play with James Forrest.
Nygren isn't likely to be the replacement to Nicolas Kuhn out wide, but he does have the ability to drift wide and then drive in off the flank, like the German did so well for much of last season.
It's still early days but the Swede already looks a sharp piece of business.