By Frank McAvennie

9th Oct, 2023 | 6:00am

Kieran Tierney claim 'could be out until January' in shattering blow - expert

Kieran Tierney will be “desperate” to get back to playing but the Arsenal defender has been urged to be careful.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Celtic and West Ham striker Frank McAvennie suggested that Tierney could return to action for Real Sociedad sooner than expected.

The 26-year-old is currently on loan at the La Liga side after struggling for game time at the Emirates.

Tierney struggled with injuries in his first season at Arsenal but has previously suggested that he did not miss a single game through injury last term.

Boss Mikel Arteta has preferred summer 2022 signing Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, with Tierney latterly missing out on matchday squads before joining Sociedad.

Tierney has started five games for the Spanish side following his arrival at the end of August.

Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil revealed (3 October) that the left-back has suffered a “major” hamstring tear and refused to put a timeline on his return to action.

But McAvennie suggested Tierney could return to the side sooner than expected.

“He could be out until January but maybe he will come back sooner,” he told Football Insider.

“That is down to the powers that be. He will probably start training in about two months and then another month before he is back.

“They might need him to come back sooner, play the last half hour or so.

“They need to make sure they do not rush him, I know Kieran will be desperate to play, even if it is just 20 minutes but that could set him back another couple of months so he just has to be careful.“

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