KIERAN TIERNEY watched and played in Celtic’s previous visit to Rugby Park this season.

Brendan Rodgers was easing the Scotland World Cup-bound defender back into action and started him on the bench against Kilmarnock in mid-September.

On-loan Uruguayan Marcelo Saracchi lasted 58 minutes before Tierney got the nod to join his team-mates who were leading 1-0 at that stage following a diving header from Daizen Maeda.

David Watson equalised when he was allowed a free header following a right-wing corner-kick, but the visitors got their reward for sheer persistence six minutes into stoppage-time when VAR instructed referee John Beaton to review a handball incident after Lewis Mayo had deflected a drive from James Forrest.

The referee returned to the pitch, pointed to the spot and Kelechi Iheanacho, making his debut after replacing Maeda in the 71st minute, accepted the responsibility and thrashed the points-clincher high into the net.

Tierney is well aware of what to expect from Neil McCann’s reinvigorated Killie outfit.

Looking ahead to the confrontation on the home side’s plastic pitch, the 28-year-old left-back said: “It’s always tough going there and in the last few weeks they’ve had good results and better performances.

“It doesn’t matter if...