Celtic centre back Erik Sviatchenko has sung the praises of young full back Kieran Tierney.

The 18 year old has broken into the first team to become Ronny Deila's first choice at left back this season, and has been nominated for the Scottish Young Player of the Year for his performances for the Scottish Premiership leaders.

Danish defender Sviatchenko only joined in January from FC Midtjylland for £1.5million, but he believes that Tierney has both the right mental attitude and the right physical qualities to become one of Celtic's most important players.

He told the Glasgow Evening Times:

"I can say only positive things. He has this unimpressed attitude. It reminds me a little bit about myself when I was his age coming in to a big stage and be expected to perform."

"Kieran is operating at a much bigger club than I was with all respect to my former club Midtjylland. Celtic is just bigger and so is the pressure. How he has been adapting to all of this is really, really impressive."

"I have a lot of respect for a young lad like KT and wish that he can continue to develop in that really quick tempo that he has been doing. Offensively he is quick and has pace, defensively he is not overrun."

"It will just be experience he needs in the end to be that key player for Celtic in the future like he is in this moment."

Tierney's performances this season have already seen the youngster linked with a move to the Premier League with Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish singling out as the most likely player to head south of the border.

Liverpool are said to be scouting the player but Tierney will certainly just be focusing on the title run-in with the Bhoys looking to seal their fifth consecutive league title.

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']