He was sidelined for three months, but Kieran Tierney never missed a game.

Celtic’s 19-year-old full-back returned to his starting position as he took up his place in the terraces with the friends and family who began his love affair with the Parkhead club.

The Scotland internationalist was there in the top tier at Ibrox as Celtic beat Rangers at Hogmonay, an experience different to the one he is used to in terms of running out of the tunnel.

“It was brilliant,” Tierney smiled. “I enjoyed the game. We obviously went down one-nil but came back. Being Hogmanay, it was the perfect way to end the year.

“I was in the first row of the top tier. It was easy to see me if you were down the front. It was a great day.

“I don’t think I missed any games in the three months I was out. To be back as a fan like I was years ago was good for me.

“I’d ben to Ibrox a few times as a supporter. One of the best times was when samaras scored twice and we won 2-0. I remember the one when Scott McDonald chest, kneed and volleyed it.

“Times like that were obviously brilliant. It’s a great day out if you win.

“I was with the people I normally get tickets for. They’ve been going all their lives. They’d have been there whether I was there or not.

“It gives you a sense of appreciation. You need to use it as a positive. I was looking at Emilio to see what he was doing and looking at the other full-backs to try and learn more about the game.”

Tierney was linked with a move to Sunderland during the January transfer window, not the first time – or indeed the last – that the teenager has been linked with a move south of the border.

The full-back signed a five year deal with Celtic last summer, though, and has maintained that he is in no rush to quit the club he grew up supporting.

“I always knew I was going to still be here,” he said. “You see everything on the internet and people talk but there was no question.”

Tierney and Scott Sinclair have established a powerful relationship on the left side of the Celtic team, with Tierney providing the bulk of the assists for the Englishman’s 15 goals that he has reaped so far this term.

And Tierney credits the relationship that the duo have off the park for the reason behind their productivity on it.

“We have a good kind of understanding with each other, he goes in and I’ll round,” said the youngster. “You need that.

“People are seeing that off the park, too.

“Everybody works on partnerships but it goes further than that. You need to understand each other more than just on the park. Off the park you need to know what each other are like.”

Celtic are on an unbeaten run of results that currently stretches to 28 games without defeat since the start of the season, while Brendan Rodgers’ side have won their last 18 league games.

Tierney, though, is wary of taking anything for granted as Celtic head to Perth on Sunday for their afternoon fixture against St Johnstone.

“You can’t go in with an attitude that the game is won,” he said. “You still need to work as hard as ever.

“There’s no easy games.

“You need to go out and win, it won’t come naturally because of a win streak. It’s down to hard work and preparation on the training ground.

“The last time it finished 4-2 up there, but it was 3-2 for a bit. They are tight games.

“There are no easy games no matter the result.

“Whoever is top of the league is going to have teams wanting to beat them, but we’ll need to deal with that. That makes you better as it brings out the best in teams.”