On a challenging opening night of the season, Celtic secured a crucial victory against Dundee, thanks to the pivotal contributions of Kieran Tierney. While last season's top scorer, Benjamin Nygren, netted the winning goal, it was Tierney's pinpoint cross that set it up, proving his enduring value to the team.

Since the return of manager Martin O'Neill in January, Tierney has emerged as one of Celtic's standout players, despite his efforts often flying under the radar. Last season, he recorded an impressive 12 assists and six goals from defense, further solidifying his reputation.

In the match against Dundee, Tierney's impact was evident:

• He registered the most shots on target for Celtic, with two.
• He created four chances, leading his teammates in this category.
• He sent in eight crosses, the highest of any Celtic player.

BBC Scotland's chief sports writer, Tom English, praised Tierney, stating, "He looked like old Kieran Tierney... he was excellent."

Although Dundee initially frustrated Celtic, Tierney's cross allowed Nygren to score from six yards, breaking the deadlock. His performance reflected his consistent contributions, as only Falkirk's Calvin Miller had more assists in the league last season, while only Daizen Maeda created more big chances.

Defensively, Tierney remains one of the league's best, showcasing his skills in tackling and clearing. Despite managing his playing time, he remains a crucial part of the squad, having played significant minutes throughout the season.

Manager O'Neill emphasized Tierney's importance, stating, "Those players are the football club. They are the backbone of Celtic." With the departure of last season's on-loan left-back Marcelo Sarrachi, O'Neill acknowledged the need for additional cover, highlighting Tierney's heavy workload and the necessity of ensuring he doesn't overextend himself.