DAVID TURNBULL could have been making his debut for Celtic later this afternoon. Instead he was posting a message on social media letting everyone know that he’s had his knee operation and that it’s now time to recover.
Turnbull will target a return to full fitness as quickly as possible and will aim to be back playing before the end of the year. That should open the door for Celtic to come calling again in the January transfer window and provided both clubs are still singing from the same hymn sheet, he should seal his £3.25million move to Paradise.
The goalscoring 19 year midfielder old broke into the Motherwell side last season and appeared to have achieved a big money move. Celtic won the race for his signature, despite interest from Norwich City, but a cartilage issue that showed up on a precautionary CT scan as part of his Celtic medical in Manchester, meant that the player required immediate surgery or serious damage could have occurred to his knee.
Neither Motherwell not Turnbull himself had any idea at all about the ticking time bomb of a problem that could have curtailed his career.
Celtic’s attempts to reach a compromise with Motherwell failed. The Champions wanted to take the player on loan, pay for the operation and the rehab and when a full recovery was made – believed to be between 3 and 6 months, conclude the deal probably in the January window. Motherwell though wanted control over their prime asset and have organised the operation on Turnbull’s knee.
Neil Lennon has confirmed that Celtic remain keen to sign the player once he’s back to full fitness.
