KIERAN Tierney, the 18-year-old left back who has made a huge impression in his appearances for Celtic this season, has admitted he is still struggling to accept he is a first team player for the Parkhead club.

Tierney started in the Europa League match against Fenerbahce back in October due to the suspension of Emilio Izaguirre and performed superbly against household names like Nani and Robin van Persie.

He has since been preferred to Izaguirre in European games against both Molde and Ajax and is hoping to get the nod from manager Ronny Deila for their final Group A fixture in Turkey on Thursday night.

Deila felt the youngest member of his side was the only player to merit pass marks in the 2-1 defeat to Molde at home last month and has publicly praised his commitment in training and willingness to learn.

He said: “We need more with the attitude KT had because he was brilliant. That’s exactly what I told the players in the dressing room afterwards - that an 18-year-old boy had shown the desire we need.”

However, the talented youngster, a boyhood Celtic supporter who originally hails from the Isle of Man, has revealed that his sudden rise to prominence during the 2015/16 campaign has taken him aback.

The player, who made his first team debut against Dundee last season, stressed there is no chance of him taking his place in the starting line-up at the Scottish champions for granted given his lifelong allegiance to the Glasgow club.

“I’m delighted with the progress I’ve made and the faith the manager has put in me by putting me in the team,” he told the official Celtic website. “I just need to try to repay that with performances.

“It’s still hard to believe, playing for Celtic and starting matches in the first-team. I just need to take it all in and make the most of it.

“Everything that’s happened recently is hard to take in. I just see myself as still being a Celtic fan. It’s brilliant. I need to appreciate every moment I have with the first-team and make the most of it.”

Tierney added: “I’ve worked so hard to play for Celtic and have supported them all my life, so it’s a dream to play for them.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. I need to keep my feet on the ground. I’m still young, it’s still early doors and I need to keep working hard and get more appearances under my belt.

“My family are the same as me and a few of them can’t believe it either. I don’t get treated any differently at home and I still do my duties at Lennoxtown, so that’s good for keeping my feet on the ground.

“I will be ready to play this week if I’m picked. It is obviously hard with the competition for places which we have at the club. To come in for Emilio is hard. I just need to be ready and take my chance if it comes.”