Domestic football with a continental twist will take precedence again this week as the international stage returns to the backburner.

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic return to action on Friday night in Paisley as the Parkhead manager faces up to his countryman, Oran Kearney, who will take charge of his first game since being appointed St Mirren manager.

That in itself will lend the game some more intrigue than might normally have been the case, although Friday night’s trip to Paisley is also the start of a gruelling run of games for Rodgers’ side who begin their Europa League campaign against Rosenborg next Thursday night. Europe’s second tier competition might not provide the same thrill as the group stages of the Champions League but for Kieran Tierney it is about making as big an impact on the tournament as possible, albeit that the Scotland internationalist has admitted to lingering regrets about the manner of the club’s exit from Europe’s premier competition. “We know we could have done a lot better, especially in the Champions League and we know that.,” he said. “It was a particularly sore one in Athens because we had the quality to beat them but we didn’t use it which was the most disappointing thing. We are now in the Europa League group stages which is the next big thing for us. We can now look forward to these matches against Rosenborg, Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg. “It is something different and although it is a disappointment that it is not the Champions League they are still games to look forward to. All three teams are decent sides and will offer us different tests and want to go out and do well and get as far as we can in the tournament.” For now, though, the immediate concern is on focusing on the game against St Mirren tomorrow night, with Tierney wary of the kick that the arrival of a new manager may bring.

“You always get that bounce with a new manager,” he said. “The players want to do well and will be out to impress him to try and get in his team going forward. It will be a tough game. They did well winning promotion and although they have changed their manager they already have points on the board and that shows they have something about them. “But, of course, the aim is to get back on top of the table and to stay there as long as possible. It is one game at a time and that is St Mirren. We will be looking to take the three points there and from there to try and go on the sort of run we are capable of. “All the boys who have been away on international duty will have to get back and get their recovery in before we start to look to St Mirren.”

Celtic signed off for the international break with a comfortable win over Rangers. And despite the narrow margin suggested by the 1-0 scoreline, Tierney believes that the Parkhead side put down a marker to puncture the early optimism that has greeted the formative weeks of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox reign.

“Everybody was talking about Rangers but we kept quiet and we did our talking, where it matters most, on the park,” said Tierney.““W played really well against Rangers and on another day we could have scored a few more. I don’t think anyone could have argued with the final outcome.”

This next chapter will come without Moussa Dembele who made the switch to Lyon in the final hours of the transfer window. That leave Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard to battle it out for the striker’s jersey, but Tierney is unperturbed at what comes next.

“There is quality in the squad and in every position, but that is Celtic for you,”he said. “If you are not working hard enough or playing to your best then there will always be somebody else there, waiting to take your place. “There is no room for complacency at Celtic and that is what makes us a top team and why every Celtic player aspires to be the best we can be.”

Meanwhile, Tierney played his part this week as Scotland got their Nations League campaign off to a winning start against Albania. It was a must-win for Alex McLeish and Tierney believes the 2-0 win shows the growing spirit in the national team.

“It is a good start,” he said. “I was asked before the game if Albania was a must win but I would say that just about every match you play for Scotland and Celtic is a must win. We were at home against Albania and we were expected to win it. There was pressure on us but we showed our character and our qualities to produce a good result. “The way we played we showed we can defend and we also have creativity at the other end to get goals as well.

“This was the Nations League this was the first competitive game and the one we were gearing towards. I think we prepared well because we clicked and put on a really good performance against Albania and on another night we could have scored more.

“We could have taken an easier game before Albania but as a player and as part of a team you want to test yourself against the best. You have to aspire to be the best we can be individually and collectively. Unfortunately, Belgium wasn’t a great night for us but we bounced back in the right manner against Albania.

“We looked a lot more threatening against Albania but I think that was understandable because Belgium are one of the top teams in the world and they have quality players all over the pitch. “It was also our first game against Belgium in this new formation and so it was always going to be hard. “You have to work at systems and formations because they don’t just happen overnight. It will be a gradual build-up but I think the performance against Albania shows we are taking a step in the right direction.”