Kieran Tierney, the Scotland left back on loan at Real Sociedad from Arsenal, suffered a potentially severe injury during their match against Athletic Bilbao.
His injury has led to concerns not only for his club but also for the Scottish national team, who are scheduled to face Spain in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
Ruairidh Barlow, the editor of Football Espana, reported the incident on Twitter. He tweeted, “Kieran Tierney mid-sprint, pulls up holding the back of his thigh. Looks unlikely he’ll be around for a few weeks. Scotland play Spain in 11 days. Tierney on the sideline lying down, head in hands after going off.”
Mundo Deportivo‘s report from 1 October 2023, read: “The negative note of the first half and the game was put by Kieran Tierney, who had to be substituted due to injury in the 24th minute after he noticed that something was not right in a kick from the right.
“He dropped the ball, raised his hand and twisted the gesture. I knew it wasn’t good news. He left very angry, with rage. He even threw two bottles on the floor. He had to walk all the way around and the crowd thanked him for the effort. The club will have to do more tests on him, but everything points to a muscle tear.”
His club then clarified, writing “Kieran Tierney suffered, during yesterday’s match, an injury to the hamstring muscles of his left thigh. Treatment through physiotherapy has begun. The return to his activities will be progressive, depending on the characteristics of the injury and the evolution of the symptoms.”
It is believed he could be facing up to three months out of action.
Tierney’s injury comes at a critical juncture for both Real Sociedad and Scotland.
For Real Sociedad, he had made four appearances this season, tallying a total of 272 minutes and providing one assist.
Sunsport reports indicate that Tierney may have injured his hamstring, which could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
This likely rules him out of Champions League action for his club this week and beyond.
His latest injury also has repercussions for Scotland‘s national team.
Steve Clarke, Scotland’s manager, would likely have seen Tierney as a key player for the upcoming match against Spain.
Tierney had already made an impact in the 2-0 victory over Spain in March, a result that put Scotland in a strong position to qualify automatically for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany next summer.
His absence could thus be a significant setback for the team’s chances.
Tierney’s recent injury adds to a history of long lay-offs both with Arsenal and his previous club Celtic.
Arsenal signed him from Celtic in 2019 for €27m and the club will be closely monitoring the situation. He is currently contracted with Arsenal until 2026.
Tierney’s injury is unfortunate for all parties involved. While it may hamper Real Sociedad‘s immediate plans, especially in the Champions League, it’s also a concern for Scotland‘s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Given Tierney’s history of injuries, both Real Sociedad and Arsenal will be awaiting further medical evaluations keenly. The next few days are likely to provide more clarity on the severity of Tierney’s injury and its implications for his club and country.