Kieran Tierney having gum shield made for Scotland's World Cup qualifier v England
Last updated 5th Jun 2017
Gordon Strachan confirmed that Kieran Tierney is having a gum shield made for Scotland's 2018 World Cup qualifier against England at Hampden Park on Saturday.
The Celtic left-back, who turned 20 on Monday, was substituted in the first-half of the Hoops' 2-1 William Scottish Cup final win over Aberdeen on May 27 after being on the end of a flailing arm, albeit he returned from the hospital in time for the trophy presentation.
Speaking at the Scots' Mar Hall training ground, Scotland boss Strachan said: "He is fine but he told me last week he would be fine.
"It is just a matter of getting a gum shield made.
"There is no pain there really, it is just making sure he doesn't get a knock in that area. But he is ready to go.
"He joined in some of the training this morning, wanted to do a bit more but we thought 'better not', just in case we have an accident, but he is in a right good place at the moment."
Two players missed out on training, striker Leigh Griffiths, who was not feeling well and midfielder Darren Fletcher who played in Michael Carrick's testimonial on Sunday, although Strachan has no concerns over either.
The Scotland squad is at various stages of fitness after a disjointed end to the season but Strachan stressed the attitude was inspiring.
He said: "It was absolutely, completely different to what you think.
"At times with a coach you are meant to inspire players but the players inspired the whole coaching staff this morning.
"As you know there is a group who have not trained for a long time and not played for a long time.
"We put on an extra-hard session for them at the end of training and when it started everybody in the squad joined in.
"The reason being is that the players thought, 'if they are doing we are all doing it'.
"So they came ambling across and started doing the same as the rest of the guys - much to the concern of the fitness coach may I add, who was having kittens at the time - but it just shows you that it is players who drive a group on, which was absolutely phenomenal. An inspiration."
The former Scotland midfielder added: "This is a huge game, an exciting game.
"A game everybody is looking forward to and the players put a marker down this morning at the first training session - we want to be ready for this game.
"They set it, not me."
Strachan will take encouragement from the performance in the 3-0 defeat by England at Wembley in November.
However, after the last-gasp 1-0 win over Slovenia at Hampden Park in March, which moved the Scots to within a point of the third-placed visitors and two points behind Slovakia, with England at the top, he is more relaxed about the outcome on Saturday.
He said: "The last one was a must-win game. I did say that.
"You never know what is going to happen with the other results about you.
"It is a must-perform game and I will go back to November and the boys performed.
"Unfortunately the three headed attempts at goal went into the back of the net.
"Craig Gordon didn't have too much to do apart from that.
"I remember turning to (assistant) Mark McGhee at 2-0 and saying, 'It is not fair on these guys' - and it is not often I do that.
"They did all the correct things and it was a thin line, a very thin line.
"The only thing that let us down was the finishing and our chances were as good if not better.
"So it is a must-perform game and if we have a bit of luck to go along with that then that is fantastic."