Celtic's Kieran Tierney is on his way to become world class just like Danny McGrain

We should instead allow ourselves to believe Scotland has produced a special footballer who is only just starting out on a route which could take him anywhere he wants to go.

It’s fair to say the 19-year-old Celtic left-back is not suffering the second season blues. Indeed, he has built on an immense breakthrough campaign to actually step up not one but several levels to the extent he can now comfortably be described as one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership.

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His display against Motherwell at the weekend, which was topped by a mazy run the best wingers around would be happy with, was faultless. But then you could count the mistakes he’s made so far on one hand over the past 18 months.

And even when he has occasionally slipped up, Tierney was culpable for a goal at Dundee last season, he got up the park soon afterwards to set up the winner. That’s the sign of a damn fine footballer.

For this observer, the Motherwell teenager is the most exciting prospect to come out of the Celtic Park youth system since Paul McStay – but don’t take my uneducated word for it. On Sportscene on Sunday, Pat Nevin, who in his time faced some decent full-backs, compared Tierney to Danny McGrain of all people.

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“That wasn’t a throwaway line about Danny,” Nevin tells me. “Don’t worry about getting over excited about Kieran because he is the real deal. There is no doubt that he is going to be a top player because he has improved exponentially on last season.

“That will be down to himself, his manager and the players around him, but whatever it is he’s become a phenomenon.

“I can’t see a weakness in his game. He is confident on the ball, has better awareness now, can defend, attack and has stood up to every test that has been thrown at him so far. He can spot a pass, creates chances and his body looks different as well, he is stronger.

“I’m going to watch four games all over Europe this week and I won’t see a better tussle than the one between Tierney and Raheem Sterling from a few weeks ago.

“Sterling had a phenomenal game that night, he was on his best form which is sensational to watch, and while Tierney didn’t win every battle, he went toe-to-toe with a £50million player. It was great to see. He did exceptionally well.

“I think we can say that Celtic have a very, very special player on their hands and the supporters clearly know this.”

Celtic don’t even have to play well as team for Tierney to shine. That’s one of his greatest strengths.

In the defeat to Rangers last season, it was the baby of the team who stood out and had a good game. And while Scotland were shipping three goals in Slovakia last midweek, Tierney was the only one who seemed to be even close to his usual game.

He is good in the air, likes a tackle, has pace, a good reading of the game, always looks for the ball and is now a real threat going forward.

His run on Saturday, four Motherwell players couldn't get near him, ended with Tierney unfortunately hitting the bar, which was the third time this season he’s found the woodwork.

And Nevin, who knew a thing or two about beating a man in his prime, was blown away by the skill on show.

“His footwork was incredible,” said the former Scotland winger. “He is doing so much more now than just overlapping. There was one dummy during his dribble, he feigned to go one way and switched back to his left, it was only a millisecond, which was an incredible piece of skill.

“Watch it closely again, and I’m sure the Celtic supporters have done this, and you will see just how wonderful it is.

“I spend a lot of time in England and there is a lot of buzz about Kieran. That doesn’t happen too often because either they don’t rate the players in Scotland or simply we don’t produce enough good ones. However, the bigger clubs have noticed with his guy is all about.”

Over the years there have been young Celtic players unwisely dubbed the new Johnstone, Dalglish and McGrain; three players you would have thought were impossible to equal.

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Nevin is not one to give away praise and plaudits so easily and he backed up is comments on television regarding the similarities between club legend McGrain and the young man who today excites him so much.

“I idolised Danny growing up,” said Nevin. “I’ve got to know him a bit and he always underplays how good he was as a player. Anyone who watched him knows he was utterly brilliant.

“He could play on both sides of defence and had the ability to dribble past the opposition as if they weren’t there. I’d love watching him running into the box because he was so exciting.

“Danny was a world class footballer and Kieran one day will be world class as well.”