Celtic hero back in contention after two-match absence; has work to do

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Celtic midfielder David Turnbull is expected to return to contention for this weekend’s game against Kilmarnock after serving his two-match suspension.

The 23-year-old missed the Bhoys trips to Easter Road and Ibrox over the past week following his sending-off against St Johnstone on Christmas Eve.

After a brief check from VAR, Turnbull was shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Clancy for endangering Saints goalkeeper Remi Matthews, catching him with a high foot.

Having watched the replay of the incident, the Celtic man was rightly given his marching orders in the dying moments of the fixture.

Unfortunately for Turnbull, it resulted in him missing the Bhoys’ final game of 2022 and the opening game of the New Year.

And they were two huge fixtures, with tricky visits to Easter Road and Ibrox. Thankfully, the Hoops came out unscathed, picking up four points and maintaining the nine-point lead.

As Ange Postecoglou’s side prepares for their first game at Parkhead in 2023, Turnbull is now expected to be back in contention for the Celtic squad after serving his two-match ban for ‘serious foul play’.

The Hoops take on Kilmarnock and will be hoping to stretch their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 12 points for at least 24 hours.

You would imagine that the former Motherwell man will return to the substitutes bench. However, ahead of his return to action, he has a lot of work to do to break back into one of Postecoglou’s first-choice midfielders.

Aaron Mooy’s form leaves David Turnbull with some work to do.

Whilst Turnbull missed out completely over the last two games, summer signing Aaron Mooy put in two influential displays against Hibernian and Rangers.

At Easter Road, the Australian was arguably man of the match, scoring two goals and helping the Bhoys to an emphatic victory in the capital.

Although he didn’t keep his starting role against our Glasgow rivals, he put in another strong display off the bench at Ibrox and played his part in the crucial equaliser.

So, with Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate being regarded as the two first-choice midfield options at Parkhead, at this moment in time, Aaron Mooy would have to be the next starting choice on form.

It leaves David Turnbull with some work to do in order to get back and playing more consistent minutes as part of the Celtic midfield three.

As he showcased in the opening half of last season, he is more than capable, and he looked to be continuing his development under Ange Postecoglou.

Whilst I still have no doubt of the quality that Turnbull does possess, upon his return to action this weekend, he has some work to do to get back challenging alongside our first-choice midfield options.

Ultimately, this can only be a positive thing for the Celtic manager, with plenty of players vying for their place in the side ahead of an important run of fixtures.

In other news, “All we ask”; Celtic star perfectly outlines the one demand players have for officials.