KOLO Toure believes Celtic and Scotland left back Kieran Tierney has the same attributes as his former Arsenal team mate Ashley Cole and can scale the same heights as the England great in future.

Toure has returned to Parkhead, where he brought an end to his illustrious playing days last season, to work as a coach under manager Brendan Rodgers and has been hugely impressed with Tierney.

The 20-year-old, who has been linked with multi-million moves to leading English clubs, including Manchester United, during the past two years, reminds him greatly of Cole.

And the ex-Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Ivory Coast centre half is confident the Scot can go on and enjoy a career every bit as successful as the current LA Galaxy defender.

Toure added: “Kieran Tierney is a lot like Ashley Cole in the way that he bombs up and downs the flanks and that he is also so physically strong.

“He plays every game as well. He is not the tallest but he is a fighter and he is strong. He cross-es, gets back and defends. He is a very, very good player.

“Can he reach Ashley Cole’s level one day? Yes, of course. He has such great potential.”

Cole won every domestic honour in the English game with both Arsenal and Chelsea – and also lifted the Champions League and Europa League trophies during his time at Stamford Bridge.

In addition, the 36-year-old won no fewer than 107 caps for England – making him his country’s most capped full-back and sixth most capped player.

The Londoner player in three consecutive World Cups and two European Championship finals with his national team.

Tierney has shown his versatility by switching to right back with Scotland, who have two massive Russia 2018 qualifiers against Slovakia and Slovenia coming up this week, with aplomb.

Toure, who won 120 caps for the Ivory Coast and helped his homeland win the African Cup of Nations in 2015, knows that his performances at international level will increase the interest in him.

But he is optimistic the lifelong Celtic supporter, outstanding for Brendan Rodgers’s side once again in their Champions League win over Anderlecht in Belgium last week, will remain at the Glasgow club.

“Kieran Tierney’s work rate is just amazing,” he said. “He gives 100 per cent in every game, he makes lots of runs and makes lots of assists too.

“He defends, he goes forward, he is every inch the modern left back. He is playing his football for a great club like Celtic and his potential is really great too.

“But we want him to stay with Celtic as long as possible. When you saw the way he was passing the ball against Anderlecht it was just great.”