A TURN FOR THE BETTER
BY MICHAEL BAILLIE
MOTHERWELL assistant boss Keith Lasley reckons David Turnbull has overcome a psychological barrier by being back on the training pitch.
The 20-year-old midfielder has yet to play this season as he continues his rehabilitation following surgery last summer to correct a knee issue.
Turnbull’s proposed £3.25million move to Celtic collapsed when the problem was highlighted in the medical which required “immediate preventative” knee surgery.
But he has now stepped up his rehabilitation and has progressed from gym work to be back out on the pitch kicking a ball.
While there is no timescale on Turnbull’s return, Lasley believes he has cleared a mental hurdle by being back among the playing squad at training.
Lasley said: “David is back on the pitch, he’s not with the group yet but he’s doing some work on his own, kicking a ball and he’s stepping it up slowly in a controlled environment.
“But he’s back out there, the boys can see him and he can see them and he’s starting to see signs of real recovery which is excellent.
“It’s great for him to be out there. I know from my own experience of a longterm injury when I did my cruciate a lot of the rehab is monotonous as it’s a lot of repetition, a lot of gym work in isolation.
“So to be back out on the pitch and be among the group, listening to what is going on and being about the boys is a good thing mentally for David.
“You can see it has given him a lift.
“There is still no timescale for when he’ll be back and there will be no chances taken.”
Lasley and Turnbull were named in Motherwell’s team of the decade last week.
Lasley admits it was an honour to get the nod from fans to be selected for the side and he would have loved to have played alongside Turnbull.
He said: “It’s just a midfield full of goals with myself and David, mostly him. David is certainly a player I would like to have played beside.”
JACK ROSS reckons Lech Poznan are wasting their time because Florian Kamberi is not interested in packing his bags for Poland.
The Hibs boss confirmed the Ekstraklasa outfit came in for the striker last week but both the club and Kamberi gave it short shrift.
Record Sport yesterday revealed Lech were set to make a second bid after their first fell well short of Hibs’ valuation.
But Ross is desperate to still have the 24-year-old in his squad when the January window slams shut – and insisted Kamberi feels the same way.
The manager, who started him in Sunday’s Scottish Cup draw at Dundee United, said: “They [Poznan] were in contact last week but I do not think there’s anything beyond that.
“There was no encouragement from the club and also Flo. I