Celtic midfielder David Turnbull has revealed that he’s taking all the positives he can from Celtic’s Champions League campaign, including some cues from his childhood football icons.
The midfielder sat out yesterday’s 6-1 win over Hibs at Celtic Park and has been involved sporadically this season after injury struggles, but has played in some of the biggest games of his career so far, including the Group F opener against Real Madrid.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were eliminated from the Champions League after last Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat to RB Leipzig, but Turnbull has found plenty to be upbeat about from the European campaign so far.
As reported by The Glasgow Times, Turnbull said: “It was a tough one to take on Tuesday night, I thought the boys played really well and created plenty of chances, but at this level it is about taking them. It wasn’t to be, but we will take positives from it.
“As you saw, they were more clinical towards the end, but we created plenty in the first half and there were a few once I came on, before they scored, so it is about taking them. If we had, I think there would have been a different outcome.
“It is great to come up against players like Modric. Some of them are ones you watched growing up and it is great to see their quality and the way they carry themselves on the pitch. If you can take wee bits of their game it would help a lot.”
Turnbull also reflected on his recent injury troubles ahead of a Premier Sports Cup tie against his boyhood side Motherwell, a fixture in which he scored a long-range rocket last season en route to Celtic’s Premiership title win.
He said: “It has been tough for me, but I have had nothing too serious and hopefully I can play a lot more minutes for the team. It is just the way football is I think. That is the way it goes, you get wee knocks and it is about dealing with them.
“It is going to be a game every three days. It is good to see there are so many as I try to make my way in the team. When I do get the chance I will just try and play as best I can.
“I just want to give 100% every time I am on the pitch. That is what I do and will continue to do. I have been unlucky recently, I have not had a good time of it with a sore ankle and stuff. But no excuses, it is about coming back and being even better. Trying to help the team out with goals and assists every week.
“It would be good to play against Motherwell. It is a big game for us. We know what we are coming up against because it was a good game against Motherwell the other week there. I am going back to Fir Park, but it is about us progressing in the cup and getting the result we need.”
Opportunities beckon for Turnbull in the coming weeks
The midfielder was basically ever-present for Ange Postecoglou in the Aussie’s debut season in Paradise until a hamstring injury in the Premier Sports Cup final win over Hibs ruled Turnbull out for the bulk of the second half of the season, making his return deep into Celtic’s title run-in.
He scored his first goal of the season and first in the Glasgow Derby in the 4-0 demolition of Rangers last month, but has been short of starts this season with the enduring form of Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate in his position – Sead Haksabanovic’s form adds further competition in an area of the squad already dense with quality.
Given the fixture congestion for Celtic before the World Cup next month, it would be little surprise to see Turnbull’s minutes increase and more regular opportunities be offered to the Motherwell academy graduate, with more regular rotation a feature of Postecoglou’s team selections this season.
In other news: Hibs boss Lee Johnson tells players to take cues from Celtic stars after Paradise thrashing
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
