Celtic talisman David Turnbull wins SPFL Star Player award for three-goal salvo

By Euan Davidson

August 24, 2021

Celtic midfielder David Turnbull has earned SPFL Star Player honours after a weekend hat-trick against St Mirren.

Turnbull was indomitable against the Buddies, scoring three excellent goals in a 6-0 win. Not only that, he’s kept his place in the Scotland team, growing into the season after winning POTY and YPOTY honours last time out [SFA].

An award already won by Celtic supremo Kyogo Furuhashi this season, Turnbull is just one of many excellent performers for Ange Postecoglou’s side in 21-22. The manager is yielding emphatic results in no time, having made sweeping changes at the club.

The attacking, energetic style has already paid dividends for Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Tom Rogic and others. Turnbull needed a little more time than his colleagues, but he’s blossoming under the new manager now.

And what goals they were, against St Mirren on Saturday. With his first, he took the ball in space, and just outside the box, launched a rasping effort past Jak Alnwick in the Buddies’ goal.

His second was an example of good positioning, reacting quickest to an Alnwick parry yards out. Then, to cap a magnificent hat-trick, Turnbull stretched to meet a Tom Rogic pass in the box.

Celtic stars, including David Turnbull, already making a mark on the SPFL

Does this mean a whole lot in the context of our season? Probably not, and it’s the win and goals that’ll be most satisfying for Turnbull. But it’s hardly a bad thing to be recognised by the league.

That, and it’s part of an ongoing trend where Celtic are concerned. The goals keep coming, emphatic wins are continuing, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Fans have come back in their thousands, and are being treated to some of the best football they’ve seen in years. Arguably, since Brendan Rodgers’ first season at the club.

We’ve got two huge matches coming up this week, with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, and Rangers at Ibrox. To be flying as we are at this stage is a huge boost for the immense challenges ahead of us.

Turnbull, surely, will be a big factor in how we get on. He couldn’t be on better form.

Read more: 90s hero hails impact of Postecoglou move