One man that has certainly taken his opportunity this pre-season has been David Turnbull. The ex-Motherwell man has had to endure a torrid time in his early career through successive injuries and must be wondering what he’s did in a past life to deserve such luck.
The other night against Athletic Club from Bilbao, David had a really strong showing which was topped off with a great long-range goal. It’s something that has been missing from the Hoops team in recent times having lost both David to injury and then not being picked, and also Tom Rogic who departed at the end of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge.
With time on his contract running out, if Rodgers wants to keep the Scottish midfielder then he will have to move fast because he will be getting watched very closely by a raft of teams. His ability has never been in question; merely his suitability to play under certain managers and play within certain systems at times. However, he did do very well under Ange until that injury in the League Cup Final back in 2021.
Brendan has openly admitted he liked Turnbull and reckons he has the footballing tools required to play his kind of football. It’s up to David now to take the opportunity given to him by the manager and try and cement a place in that Celtic side. He reminds me a lot of Stuart Armstong whom Rodgers managed to help elevate and refine during his first tenure in the Parkhead hot-seat.
Although not identical players by any means, both are Scottish and both possess an ability to create something out of nothing – especially in front of goal. That unique ability to find the bottom corner of the net is something that has been lacking of late with the Hoops and David Turnbull could be the man to inject that into the side moving forward. Armstrong was a vital weapon in Rodgers’ Invincible season and something tells me Turnbull could be utilised to the same devastating effect this time around.
Paul Gillespie
…till it gets to games where tackles are allowed.