Kieran Tierney has revealed that he knew Patrick Roberts was on his way back to Celtic long before the deal was officially complete - but was sworn to silence.

Tierney and Roberts struck up a friendship during Roberts' initial 18-month loan spell and was in constant dialogue with the England under-20 internationalist throughout the summer.

The Manchester City winger has returned for another season loan - Celtic were willing to make the player their record signing but found his parent club unwilling to sell - and Tierney is looking forward to getting back to Lennoxtown for a reunion this morning.

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"I knew he was coming back before most! I knew for a wee while before obviously all the paperwork was done and I knew that he was looking to get back up but I was sworn to secrecy! I had promised to keep my mouth shut." said Tierney.

"I haven't seen him yet so I am looking forward to catching up with him today.

"He has already proven himself at Celtic. That is why the fans wanted him back so badly and why the manager wanted him back.

"It is another top class winger that we have in the squad - that is a few of them that we have now.

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"It will stand us in good stead as we get ready for the Champions League. I'm sure that he'll be desperate to get back in and get to work and get himself back on the pitch."

Tierney will return to Celtic this morning for the first time since the transfer window closed and the player is pleased to not that there will be no empty lockers at Lennoxtown.

There was considerable interest in Jozo Simunovic while there was also enquiries made for Moussa Dembele and Tierney believes that it is a coup for Celtic to have kept their squad in tact.

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"You need to do that," he said. "What we achieved last season was great and we want to build on that. In that respect, keeping the same squad helps us keep that consistency.

"The manager has brought in a few to help strengthen and I am looking forward to seeing the new striker when I get back to Celtic today.

"The most important thing for us is that we keep going in the direction that we are.

"We have a strong squad now and we are looking forward to getting back into the Champions League next week. It is exciting times at the club and I think we look as though we are in good shape ahead of what will hopefully be another good season."