Kieran Tierney tackles Brendan Rodgers Celtic contract countdown as he spots clear sign boss' 'drive' is still there
Kieran Tierney insists Brendan Rodgers is as driven as ever and won't be distracted by contract countdown talk.
The Celtic boss has entered the final year of his current Hoops deal and is remaining tight-lipped about his long-term plans.
Tierney admitted he's thrilled to be hooking up with his old gaffer again – and he's seen no signs Rodgers is winding down to an exit.
The Irishman was roaring on the touchline in Wednesday night's friendly win against Sporting Lisbon and charged up for Saturday's bounce game with Newcastle United at Celtic Park.
Tierney is adamant there are no fears about the manager's motivation heading towards the new season.
He said: "I don't think he'll bother too much about the kind of outside noise.
'He'll just get on with his job because he knows he's got a job to do, and as his players, we've got a job to do.
"We need to do it to the best of our ability, and that takes hard work and commitment every single day, no days off and just being at it every day.
'I think with the captain that we've got, it's perfect having Callum and the manager as well together. It's a perfect combination.
'It's amazing how much the manager actually works, and what the effort he puts in.
'We saw the benefits of it the other night.
'I think we played really well the other night, some good passages of play against a top team.
'It just shows you how passionate he is that you can still see him shouting and wanting more. And I think you need that if you are going to win these trophies and that, you need to be 100 per cent all the time.
'Pre-season friendly, whether it's Champions League qualifier, Scottish Cup, League, you need to be on it every single day, even in training. You need to be on it and the manager makes sure that we are.
'He's got that, it's his drive.'
Rodgers played a big role in bringing Tierney back to Celtic with fans fevered about the prospect of a second coming after the pair were snapped together at a dinner last year.
The full back said: "I knew these pictures would come out! It's massive. I've always kept in contact with him. He always texts me in the good times and the bad times throughout my career, he gave me a phone call.
'I'm buzzing to be back with the gaffer. I loved my time under him before. We were successful together. He got the best out of me and it's a joy to work with and I'm delighted to be back with him.'
Tierney is determined to put his injury problems behind him but he insists he has nothing to prove regarding his fitness.
He said: 'No, nothing, I know how much I work professionally myself, on my body, on my recovery, being as ready as I can be for games.
'I'm not here to prove anything, I'm just here to do the best for Celtic and see where it goes.
'I know how much I focus on my body, my recovery, and doing everything I can to be in the best possible shape that I can be, so that's all I can think about.
'I can't sit and worry about what ifs or anything. I think what can I do just to be in the best condition that I can be in.'
Meanwhile striker Shin Yamada is expected to rubber stamp a four-year deal over the weekend while Rodgers is still on the hunt for new faces.
Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha remains high on the wishlist with the Belgians ready to lower their £5m demands while Celts are cool on talk in Romania over a move for Cluj hitman Louis Munteanu, with the 25-year-old being tracked by teams in France.
Celts are set to step up their pre-season plans against Newcastle today and Tierney added: "I think always when there's a Scottish-English team playing each other, the atmosphere is going to be good, there's always going to be a bit of rivalry there.
'It's a confidence builder as well. But also it is important for the fitness side of things to get boys sharp and get boys ready, give everyone minutes and give people a chance to impress.'
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