Celtic star David Turnbull targets more goals as midfielder vows the best is still to come
IT was like a red rag to The Bull.
David Turnbull started last season on fire for Celtic, only to be crocked in the Premier Sports Cup final just before Christmas.
As he sat on the sidelines for three months, the midfielder saw new faces arrive who could play in his position.
But Turnbull vowed there and then to return even better.
It’s an approach he’s continued through the summer and it’s worked well.
On Saturday against Norwich City he netted his third goal of a six-game unbeaten pre-season for the Hoops.
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But Turnbull, 23, insists he still has more improvement to come.
The Scotland cap said: “I spent a bit of time out after the cup final and that was tough.
"But it just makes you want to work that bit harder to push to get back in the team.
“I was playing before, so it was about trying to impress every day in training.
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“The new signings have added to the squad, 100 per cent.
"They have all done brilliantly and the greater competition we have can only be healthy for the squad.
“It makes you work harder in training and in games to cement your place.
“I would say I’ve still got more to come from me.
"It’s about fitness at this stage in pre-season and getting minutes in the legs, playing the way the manager wants.
“But once the season gets up and running, I think there is more to come.”
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Turnbull looks a settled member of the first-team squad after joining from Motherwell two years ago.
Despite being crocked for months, last season was a memorable one for him and the club as they regained the title and lifted the Premier Sports Cup.
Turnbull made his mark with ten goals, including some memorable strikes, and also cemented his place as a part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad.
But impressive midfield pair Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate arrived in January, with James McCarthy and Yosuke Ideguchi also competing for central roles alongside skipper Callum McGregor.
Aaron Mooy’s recent arrival has cranked up the pressure in the engine room, but Turnbull isn’t fazed.
He knows making it into the side will be a fiercer battle than ever this season.
But he insists everyone is in the fight together too, with a Champions League campaign to look forwards to.
Turnbull said: “We don’t really have a competition going between us for goals. We all kind of complement each other.
“I spent a bit of time out after the cup final and that was tough. But it just makes you want to work that bit harder to push to get back in the team.
"It’s good to play with those boys though and I hope they feel the same way.
“We all like to score goals and we don’t mind who gets them as long as we all contribute.
“Most of the goals we do score seem to be good ones rather than tap-ins so long may it continue.
“I managed to get a few nice ones last year. I better not say the one against Motherwell was the best!
“There was the one at Tannadice which was a good one — and I totally meant it.
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“It’s good to look back on those moments last season.
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“I know I’ve got that in my locker and it’s about bringing it to the team and hopefully adding a few more this year.”
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