KIERAN Tierney has rated his chances of playing for Scotland in the Euro 2020 match against England at Wembley tomorrow night as 50-50 after taking part in a another training session yesterday.
Tierney has admitted the discomfort from the calf injury that ruled him out of the opening Group D encounter with the Czech Republic at Hampden on Monday afternoon is bearable.
The Arsenal left back took part in the national squad’s session at their training base just outside Darlington yesterday despite manager Steve Clarke expressing doubt that he would be involved on Tuesday.
Clarke’s side desperately need to get a result against Gareth Southgate’s team in the wake of their disappointing 2-0 reverse against the Czechs if they are to stand any chance of making it through to the last 16.
It will increase their hopes of recording a draw or a famous victory against the Auld Enemy if the versatile £25m defender, who has arguably been their best performer this season, is in the starting line-up.
Asked how he was yesterday, Tierney said: “Getting better. I trained today, I’ll train tomorrow and the decision will probably be made tomorrow afternoon or even on Friday before the game. It probably is 50-50.
“It’s just so unlucky because I worked so hard to get back from my knee injury. I came back quickly for that, played a few games. I don’t know if those few games caught up with me and I just got a wee niggle. That’s all it is, just a niggle. It’s touch and go.
“The pain itself probably wouldn’t stop you playing. It’s if you played on it, it could get a lot, lot worse and you could get out for a lengthy time. You can’t risk it, not with calfs.
“I did most of the training. It was more of a precaution to not do everything to the end, but I did most of it.”
Tierney admitted he had been devastated to sit out Scotland’s first match at a major tournament finals since the game against Morocco at France ’98 23 years ago.
“I was gutted,” he said. “I was so down. I stayed back and did rehab work as well. I was just so flat that day. I stayed back here trying to get fit for Friday and it was probably the longest day. It was a horrible day.
“Watching the anthem was amazing, but what I was feeling inside was terrible. I wanted to be there so much. I wanted to help the boys out, wanted them to do so well and not being able to help was hard to take.
“I just watched it in my room. I had to do rehab all day and took an hour or two off just to watch the game. The other players have been good obviously, but when you are out, there’s not much anyone can say. Your family are there for you as well, but it was tough to take.”
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