Celtic defender Colby Donovan has spoken candidly about earning his maiden senior Scotland call-up and the pivotal mentorship of Kieran Tierney as the Scottish champions prepare for their Europa League encounter against Ferencvaros. The 20-year-old right-back received his inaugural international summons from new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, earning a place in the squad for an upcoming training camp in La Manga and a four-game Nations League campaign.
The news of his international breakthrough arrived at a complex emotional juncture for the young full-back. Donovan was still processing his biggest career disappointment to date, coming off a difficult Old Firm defeat against Celtic’s fiercest rivals in his first fixture against them. Refusing to take solace in personal milestones following a derby loss, Donovan stressed that team results supersede individual performance, insisting he would gladly take playing poorly in every match if it guaranteed victory for his club. Nevertheless, discovering his inclusion in Pocognoli’s senior squad provided a massive mental lift, leaving him buzzing for the opportunity ahead.
A driving force behind Donovan’s rapid progression into Celtic’s first-team picture has been his close relationship with Tierney, who recently returned to Glasgow following his spell at Arsenal. Both players emerged through Celtic’s youth setup having lived and breathed the club from childhood, creating an immediate common bond between the two full-backs. Donovan views the experienced defender as the ultimate benchmark, constantly seeking his guidance to navigate the demands of senior football at both domestic and international levels.
Donovan’s admiration for Tierney extends back to the international stage, where he vividly remembers Tierney coming off the bench to score a decisive goal for Scotland during their World Cup play-off against Denmark last year. Watching his role model deliver in high-stakes fixtures has fuelled Donovan’s ambition to replicate that level of success. With Tierney back in Glasgow, Celtic are benefiting from having a proven top player back at an exciting stage of his career, while Donovan gains an invaluable daily sounding board as he aims to carve out a similar path.
That mentorship has seamlessly translated off the pitch into a strong personal friendship. The two defenders regularly unwind away from the training ground by taking their dogs on walks together, with Donovan walking his all-black Chow Chow alongside Tierney and his Rottweiler, Benji. As Celtic focus their sights on Ferencvaros in Europe and Scotland embark on their Nations League schedule, Donovan remains determined to seize every chance, walking in the footsteps of the player he considers the ideal role model.
