Andy Bargh believes Kieran Tierney is Scotland’s best player ahead of EURO 2020.
The Arsenal star has been in excellent form for club and country this season and he’s a key player in Steve Clarke’s squad.
The Scotland boss plays Tierney at left-centre back to incorporate the former Celtic man and captain Andy Robertson in the starting eleven.
Ahead of Scotland's first Group D game against Czech Republic on Monday, Lanarkshire Live Sport editor Paul Thomson, reporter Euan Robertson and Bargh, host of the Hampden Roar, previewed the nation's prospects.
Bargh, who is commentating on Scotland’s game against England, insists Tierney is an inspirational figure and his relationship with Robertson is constantly improving.
“I actually think that Kieran Tierney is our best player for Scotland,” Bargh said.
“He’s strangely a talisman from centre-back, which you don’t see very often, but he’s just so capable at either end of the park.
“I wasn’t in favour of Tierney and Robertson starting together. I was actually in favour of Tierney just starting over Robertson at left-back but that wasn’t going to happen as he’s the captain.
“I’ve become more familiar and accustomed to it and Robertson doesn’t really need to get on the ball to make it worthwhile.
“The opposition are so distracted by having two incredible players. If the opposition are marking Robertson then it leaves space for Tierney to run into.
“It’s starting to click, it took a while and we didn’t look like we carried a goal threat for a while but it looks like it is coming together.
“When Kieran Tierney got injured for Arsenal it was a real heart in mouth moment because he is vital for us - the fact that he’s returned so quickly is monumental.”
Lanarkshire Live reporter Robertson agreed with Bargh’s comments and he also believes that Tierney is Scotland’s most important player.
Robertson feels that no other defender in the squad can excel at left centre-back and he fears that an injury to Tierney could cause major problems.
He said: "I think he is our best player but also our most important player. The whole Robertson and Tierney dilemma has gone on for years.
“I know Tierney played at right-back but I’m not a fan of having a left-footed player at right back.
“I think it’s the perfect solution and Clarke deserves credit for that. It wasn’t that great for the first couple of games but you can see the improvement recently.
“Tierney has grown into the game and he links well with Robertson and we are a real threat down that left-hand side.
“He’s our most important player because if he gets injured then I don’t think McKenna could play there because he’s too slow and he’d get isolated in that position.
“If he gets injured then there would be major problems and he’s probably been our most consistent performer under Clarke."
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