There is something about David Turnbull that makes me warm to him as a Celtic player. Now, I don’t know if it was because in that instantly forgettable COVID season he was the one shining light in what was a pretty shocking year for the club.
Or maybe it’s because I love to see Scottish players do well, whatever it is, I have always had a soft spot for him.
We haven’t seen a lot of Turnbull over the season past under Ange Postecoglou. The 24-year-old was a mainstay in Ange’s first season and made 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals under the Australian.
But a hamstring injury that he suffered in the December of that year put him out for up to four months and by that time Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate had established themselves as the new main men alongside Callum McGregor.
But now, under Brendan Rodgers, Turnbull has the opportunity to show what he can do. He has the chance to show a new manager that he is hungry and able to do a job just as good as, if not better than O’Riley and Hatate.
It will be difficult, but it is not impossible. The good thing going for Turnbull is that with the retirement of Aaron Mooy, a first-team squad place has instantly become available.
The signing of Odin Thiago Holm might suggest that he would be the first player to fill that empty spot but the onus is now on Turnbull to show that over the course of his three years at Celtic he has the experience and the nous to claim it.
And tonight, against Portimonense, he must grasp the first opportunity if and when it arises. He will have the upcoming Japan Tour and the friendly against Wolves to hopefully show what he can do. But if he is selected to face the Portuguese club, what an opportunity to lay a marker down.
Turnbull, of course, has extra motivation to make sure he makes any opportunity he gets count. He is now in the final year of his contract. I have no doubt that he would want to try and convince the club to extend his stay.
He also has his international career to think about. With Scotland on the brink of qualifying for next year’s Euros in Germany, Turnbull will no doubt have aspirations to be on that plane with Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor.
In other news, Willie Miller names versatile Celtic defender to fill priority position at Aberdeen
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