Turnbull inspired by skipper Brown after big-money transfer

David Turnbull believes Celtic skipper Scott Brown is the perfect example of how a talented young Scot’s big-money move to Parkhead can work.

A knee issue in his medical scuppered the midfielder’s transfer to Celtic in June 2019 but the Scottish champions agreed to pay Motherwell a similar fee to the potential £3.25 million on offer after the 21-yearold returned to full fitness after surgery.

The Fir Park club said the fee was nearly double their previous transfer record, which was the £1.75m received from Celtic for Phil O’donnell in 1994.

Brown joined Celtic from Hibernian in 2007 for a fee of £4.4m, the highest transfer fee paid between two Scottish clubs, and has enjoyed a glittering career since.

“He has obviously been here for years,” said Turnbull.

“He came here as a young boy all those years ago and he is someone you can look up to. If I can do half as much as he has done it would be amazing.

“I believe in my ability and I feel as if I can come here and make an impact. Hopefully I can do that and I feel ready.

“I always believed in my ability and that after my injury not much would have changed.

“It was always in my head that I would come back and be the same player, it is just how long it would take.

“I am just delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started.”

Turnbull could make his debut against Motherwell at Parkhead today.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon meanwhile has urged his want-away players to settle down and focus on the bid for 10 in a row.

The Parkhead boss threatened to rid the club of uncommitted players after they were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers with a 2-1 defeat by Ferencvaros on Wednesday night, to leave them harbouring hopes only of Europa League football this season.

Asked if he had any regrets about making his feelings known publicly, Lennon replied “not really” before, in a more conciliatory tone, calling for the players in question to refocus.

He said: “We want them all here. We’ve made that pretty clear. We have a big year ahead of us. This is a difficult time of the year as you know, people are unsettled.

“We want them to settle down and do what’s best for the club and that means winning the league and trying to make the best of what’s left of the European campaign.

“I am not saying there is disharmony within the group but what I want is players who are with us and who really want to be successful again this year.

“We suffered a blow. One of our objectives has gone but we have plenty of other objectives.”

French striker Odsonne Edouard misses out again with a thigh injury.

David Turnbull sealed his move to Celtic.