David Turnbull is relishing the competition for places in the heart of the Celtic side – and the battle to be the midfield top scorer. The Hoops were at full steam through pre-season as Ange Postecoglou’s men rattled 20 goals in five games against decent opposition.
A fair chunk of them came from the engine room with Turnbull’s slick finish against Norwich City on Saturday making it three for the summer while Reo Hatate and Matt O’Reilly alongside him also nabbed a couple each. Celtic’s front line looks lethal with the lines of Kyogo, Giakoumakis, Jota, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and James Forrest all regularly on the scoresheet.
But the Bhoys in behind them are hungry to get in on the act – with Turnbull looking to add to his already impressive Hoops haul. The 23-year-old hit the net 10 times last term – despite missing several months through injury – and he’s determined to kick on again this season.
Turnbull said: “We don’t have a competition going yet! We all kind of compliment each other. It’s good to play with those boys – 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.”
The strikers add the finishing touches but it’s Celtic’s playmakers who have a habit of producing the spectacular. Turnbull loves a worldie and he already has a fair collection – with his sensational effort against Dundee United last season, when he managed to loop the ball over now Celtic keeper Benji Siegrist and tuck it away when it landed the pick of the bunch.
He said: “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! It’s good to look back on those moments last season. 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.”
There’s a sense Turnbull is only getting started. He was a rare shining light in his first season at the club when the 10 in a Row bid went up in smoke. He was hitting top gear last term when a knee injury robbed him of four months of football. But he’s back in business now and he reckons Celtic fans have only seen a sneak preview.
Turnbull said: “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. Once the season gets up and running I think there is more to come.
“It’s great. The manager always works with the attacking players and there is a freedom to go and play in the final third. We want to move the ball quickly and as you can see, we create a lot of chances. Hopefully that can continue.”
Turnbull has made a blistering start in pre-season but he knows he can’t afford to relax at Parkhead. O’Riley, Hatate and himself are the ones fighting it out for two spots most weeks – with captain Callum McGregor the first name on the teamsheet in the anchor role.
The arrival of versatile Aaron Mooy has chucked another name in to the frame and Turnbull admitted the fight for starting roles will keep everyone on the ball. The £3m signing from Motherwell said: “Is the competition for places a good thing? I would say so.
“I spent a bit of time out after the Premier Sports Cup Final and that was tough. It just makes you want to work that bit hard to push to get back in the team. I was playing before so it’s about trying to impress every day in training.
“The new signings have added to the squad 100 percent. They have all done brilliantly and the competition can only be healthy for the squad. It makes you work harder in training and in games to cement your place.”
There have been huge changes at Celtic in the last 12 months but Turnbull believes the Hoops are now a formidable unit. He said: ”There was a big transition last year. They have great personalities and they have been great additions on and off the pitch. They’ve brought a lot to the team. It’s a great dressing room bond as everyone’s loving it. It’s about building on last year.”
The goal remains the same but the task is different this time around. Twelve months ago Celtic were in rebuilding mode and in the position of hunters. Now as champions they are the one who will be hunted.
But Turnbull insisted the drive remains the same in the quest to retain the title. He said: “It’s just about working hard. A lot of people wrote us off last year and we proved them wrong.
“We’ve added more bodies and have players back from injury. It’s about doing more of the same and taking it up another level. We want to try to win every game we can. I don’t think being champions will make any difference to our approach.
“We’ll still take each game as it comes. Last season was a great success but we want to build on it. Nothing has changed for us – we will still be at it every week.”
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