If Kieran Tierney’s theatre review was the catalyst for how Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spent his weekend then there is no question that both men will look to be singing the same song this week.

The Champions League music isn’t the theme tune on offer but there is an argument to suggest that tomorrow’s meeting with RB Salzburg in the Europa League is akin to a meeting in Europe’s premier tournament.

Salzburg were denied a Champions League group place only because of an away goal and their firm grip on their domestic landscape means they are unbeaten this term. As such, Rodgers has hinted that he will take a more pragmatic approach to the game than he might previously have with Tierney prepared to execute whatever game plan is handed to him as Celtic look to hit the right note.

“If the gaffer thinks that’s what’s required then it’s required,” said the full-back. “In Europe you know you are going to get a hard game no matter where it is. There are no bad European sides especially in the group stages with the teams we have. We know it will be really hard for us.”

That might prove to be something of an understatement given Salzburg’s recent stats. The Austrians sound a lot like just where Celtic were in Rodgers’ inaugural season at the club with a swagger and flexing of muscle ensuring that they are untouched domestically.

By contrast, Celtic’s lure has faded in what has been the first bit of turbulence the club have experienced since the arrival of Rodgers a little over two years ago. The Parkhead side are currently in the unfamiliar role of craning their neck to take a look up at the league leaders, although Tierney is curious to see just how the Tynecastle side cope with setting the pace.

Craig Levein’s side play Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon with the scoreline particularly intriguing to Celtic; an Ibrox win could actually work in their favour while the alternative could effectively pour cold water on any chat regarding a title challenge emanating from Steven Gerrard’s side.

“That could be interesting because usually the pressure is on us to lead from the front but they’re sitting on top of the Premiership and they haven’t lost to anyone yet so the pressure will eventually build on them,” said the Scotland internationalist.

“At Celtic, we’re used to dealing with that pressure all the time. Hearts have had a great start and proved that they’re really hard to beat – we already know that because, when we lost to them at Tynecastle, it was a really tough game.

“People talk about a title challenge and, especially when there’s so much chatter about us, we just want to work hard and go out there and do what we’ve always done. We’re not looking to prove anybody wrong; it’s more about proving ourselves right and get back to where in the two previous seasons – or as close as we possibly can.”

Strengthening their hand on that front could be the return of French striker Odsonne Edouard. Celtic’s striker, whom the club broke their own transfer record for this summer, was forced out of Saturday’s game against Aberdeen after being on the end of a crude lunge from Pittodrie defender Scott McKenna.

The anticipation was always that he would be fine for tomorrow’s game and Tierney has confirmed that the 20-year-old trained with his colleagues at Lennoxtown. That the deadleg sustained from the challenge was all that Edouard was left with was fortuitous, according to Tierney.

“He’s fine – he’s back training with us,” said 21-year-old.

“You saw the tackle. “It’s one of those things you can’t say too much about; you just need to get on with it and hope that something like that doesn’t happen to you – you continue to challenge in a fair manner and hope that nothing bad happens.

“Odsonne got lucky because his foot hadn’t been planted. It looked a really sore one at the time, though, so to have him back on the training ground is great for us.

“I saw the photograph that Odsonne put on social media – and I saw Broony’s comment underneath it as well. [Scott McKenna] probably never meant to do it but it’s just one of those things – anyone can mistime a challenge.” The result against Aberdeen coupled with the League Cup win over St Johnstone dissipated some of the tension around the club,, although Tierney re-iterated that the unity within the Celtic dressing room has never been under threat.

“The only people you need to listen to are your manager, your coaches and your team-mates,” he said. “We don’t so much laugh [at talk of a crisis] as don’t take it in too much,” he said. “We deal with the people in our changing room and in our building like the coaching staff, the gaffer and listen to people like Broony.” Tierney was on hand yesterday to promote Celtic’s DVD to commemorate their back-to-back Treble winning season last term. The full-back has had a prominent role to play in the recent success of the club but anyone front and centre always invites critics of their own. “That’s the thing being a Celtic fan...you go home to more Celtic fans talking about the game,” he smiled.

“You can’t get away from it.

“To an extent it is what you want because I’ve always loved Celtic and always talked about them after games when I came home when I was younger.

“Now when I come home my dad is talking about it: ‘what about this, you should have shot’ ‘you should have had a goal there’ and all that.”