IT’S the question every parent of a Celtic superstar must ask themselves. What do you get someone who earns more money than he’ll ever know what to do with for his Christmas?

In the case of Kieran Tierney, well, a Celtic top. Obviously.

While Brendan Rodgers’ players jetted off around the world to various lavish and luxurious destinations, it was the sight of the 20-year-old on holiday with his family that grabbed the most attention.

While Stuart Armstrong holidayed in Manhattan with Ryan Christie and team-mates such as James Forrest flew out early to catch some sunshine here in Dubai at Celtic’s stunning five-star resort, pictures of their young left-back cutting about Tenerife wearing a vintage Celtic top, while making a guest appearance at a Celtic pub, brought a smile to the faces of the myriad admirers of the lad from Motherwell.

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“To be fair, I asked for that top for Christmas. That was the only thing I could think of,” laughed Tierney, providing an explanation for cutting about in a vintage Celtic top on his week off. “It was the CR Smith centenary year strip. Before Christmas they always bring stuff in from people for you to sign. I saw this T-shirt and thought ‘this one is a belter!’ so I tried it on and said: ‘right, get me one of them for Christmas’.

“It was someone my mum knew that I’d to sign it for, so I just said get me one of them because it’s decent. It’s a nice top. That’s the story behind it.

“I got a bit of slagging for it! Do people not know I’m a Celtic fan? Every interview I mention I’m a Celtic fan then I get slagged for wearing a Celtic top. But you deal with it. It was a Celtic pub. I’ve been to Tenerife a few times and I’ve always gone to see them and I said I’d go again this time. They asked me to pop in, so it was good to see the fans as well.

“I think it is very important. I said to the owner of the bar that if I was a Celtic fan on holiday and a Celtic player was coming, I’d be buzzing about it.

“So if have that opportunity to do that for somebody, I’d do it.

“I’m not saying it is going to make anyone’s holiday, but if it makes them happy for that day, I’ll do it.”

Ever since he first burst into the first-team squad – sporting a set of green braces – his affection for the club he now represents is beyond doubt. In the Scottish Cup final last year it’s a wonder his jaw didn’t bleed green after he was clattered by Aberdeen’s Jayden Stockley. Even when speaking at Celtic’s hotel in Dubai during his down time, the young defender is sitting sporting a pair of green shorts and a white top as he explains how he is living the dream.

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“I’ve never seen it as work,” he explains. “It’s hard at times when you are growing up and you are having to get up at 6am to go to the school Celtic send you to and you don’t even play at the weekend.

“It is hard, but it makes you mentally tougher and it helps me now I’m getting older to deal with different situations you are put in.

“I hope [the day it stops feeling like this] never comes. If I’m looking up to Broony [club captain, Scott Brown] he doesn’t call it work either, he just loves football, playing and training so hopefully I can aspire to be like him.

“There are moments I pinch myself.

Even when I was in Tenerife there’s maybe 100 or so people there to see me with just around an hour’s notice. The guy put it on social media, it killed me! I got about 100 rounds!

“For people to come and see you when they are on their holidays and to take time out, it’s just crazy.”

Tierney’s love and appreciation for the dream he now lives should not be mistaken for naivety. This is a young man who is more than accomplished at the role he’s performing. After going from a young teenager thrown in as a substitute against Dundee almost three years ago, he’s already captained his club, not to mention leading out his country against the Netherlands last year.

His consistency, reliability, maturity and fitness meant that he played the most minutes of any outfield player in Europe across 2017.

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“I know I heard that. It’s mental to be fair,” he said. “You think of all the top teams and the hundreds of games they play but when you think about the amount we’ve had on top of international games it’s been hectic right from pre-season.

“My match fitness is probably the best it’s ever been because you play, then recover, then play. You don’t have time to train or do much tactics because there’s just no time. That’s why this break and the second half of the season isn’t that bad. You get to do a bit more of that.”

He added: “I remember the day after I made the bench for the first time I broke my leg. I went from the highest I’d ever been to the lowest the next day. But it made me a better player and hungrier.

“It gave me a taste for it. I didn’t want to use the leg break as an excuse, so I worked hard and Ronny Deila gave me a debut.

“I was buzzing even just going out to warm up at Celtic Park.

“I knew I probably wouldn’t get on, but just doing the warm-up gave me a taste for it and I just wanted more and more, so it might have been different if the break had come before that day on the bench.”

It’s hard to imagine Tierney anywhere else, even for the young man himself. Manchester United have once again been linked with him as his stock continues to rise, although you do get the feeling if he did move to Old

Trafford he’d still be asking for a Celtic top for his Christmas.

“When top clubs like that are said to be showing an interest, it’s flattering because it means you’re doing something right,” said Tierney, who signed a six-year contract last year.

“It’s good to see stuff like that, but I’ve just signed one of the longest-term deals at this club and I could not be happier with it. I was buzzing when it came.

“I’ve been here for 13 years now and that’s a long time. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t put it past me [staying forever]. It could happen, but anything could happen. I’ve had injuries, anything can happen, I’ve seen it with players before.”