Kieran Tierney feared his Euro dreams were over when his knee ‘popped’ while playing for Arsenal against Liverpool.

Arsenal v Liverpool - Premier League - Emirates Stadium Arsenal s Kieran Tierney walks off the pitch with an injury during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. Saturday April 3, 2021. Copyright: Adam Davy
Arsenal v Liverpool – Premier League – Emirates Stadium Arsenal s Kieran Tierney walks off the pitch with an injury during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. Saturday April 3, 2021. Copyright: Adam Davy

When Arsenal said that Kieran Tierney would be back in four-to-six weeks, most people thought that meant an end to his season, even if the club wasn’t saying that. There are only six weeks left, after all, at the time.  But, of course, that would be a normal player, and Tierney is anything but normal.

Tierney had already missed 28 Arsenal games prior to his last injury, including six games from January 19, 2021, because of another knee problem.

While at Celtic, Tierney didn’t fair much better, although he didn’t suffer any knee problems.

He missed 55 games across four seasons, meaning the 23-year-old has missed 90 games because of injury problems since the 16/17 season when you factor in the games from his latest problem.

It’s not surprising, then, that the defender feared the worst during that game against Liverpool.

“I heard the pop from my knee and it immediately went through my mind ‘Is this bad? Is this my season done?” Tierney told the S*n.

“I was worried about it being long term. Arsenal were on course for a European final and I didn’t want to miss the ties we had coming up or the end to the season. Then there was Scotland and the Euros. There was everything to play for.

“The injury happened at a time I was feeling great. I’d just got back from the Scotland camp where I’d done well,” Tierney said.

“I had to wait three or four days before I got the news from the Arsenal physio Jordan Reece it was a grade two ligament problem and I’d be six weeks out. He told me: ‘You’ll be fine for the Euros. You don’t need to worry about that’.

“It was still disappointing to be out. but it was also relief it wasn’t for far longer.

“Thankfully, surgery wasn’t needed. I actually got back playing within four and a half weeks which was crazy, and now I’m feeling great again and ready for the Euros.”

In the end, Tierney missed seven games and returned for Arsenal’s second leg against Villarreal.