Kieran Tierney did not name directly Ross Grant after Celtic’s 7-1 win over Hearts, but his comments pointed straight to one area the coaching staff have clearly been drilling.

Celtic blew Hearts away inside the opening ten minutes at Celtic Park, and both early goals came from corner situations.

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Benjamin Nygren then made it 2-0 from another set-piece phase, with Dane Murray helping the delivery on before the Swede finished from inside the box.

It gave Celtic the fast start Martin O’Neill needed after the midweek defeat to Benfica, and it left Hearts chasing a game that quickly ran away from them.

The Ross Grant subplot was hard to miss.

Celtic brought Grant in during the summer with a focus on set-piece analysis and coaching after his spell at Hearts. On Sunday, his new club punished his former side from dead-ball situations before the match had properly settled.

Speaking to Sky Sports Scotland, Tierney said: “We work on the set-pieces a lot.

“I think it’s so important these days to be good at them and everyone knows their role.

“We got a few goals from it today.”

Celtic were sharper to the second ball, more aggressive in their movement, and Hearts looked uncomfortable every time the ball came into their box.

The second goal carried a similar theme. Another delivery, another flick, another Hearts defensive lapse.

Celtic still had plenty to do after that, with Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and Nygren making sure the result became a rout.

But the set-pieces set the tone.

On a day when Celtic needed a response, Grant’s work helped them land the first blow against the club he left behind.