IT’S FERGIE TIME FOR TURNBULL

Next Celtic manager urged to build team around midfielder just as Advocaat did with Ibrox hero Barry

DICK ADVOCAAT shopped at several expensive outlets to assemble a squad glittering with talent as Rangers turned to retail therapy to soothe the pain of missing out on Ten-in-a-Row. Yet nothing gave rise to a sparkle in the Dutchman’s eye quite like the discovery that a gem was already in place around which he could build his team.

The Little General whipped Barry Ferguson, then 20, into shape pretty quickly and was soon on a mission to mould his career into a top-class one for club and country. He succeeded.

Does a similar treat lie in wait for the next Celtic manager in the shape of David Turnbull?

A young midfielder offering the glimmer of hope to all at the deposed champions that they can strike back at their Old Firm rivals at the first available opportunity.

Owen Coyle was a Motherwell striker up against Ferguson’s Rangers several times as the Ibrox

star blossomed under the

I think that he has been a shining light in a disappointing season for Celtic

direction of Advocaat in dominant domestic and improved European form.

As a Celtic supporter, Coyle would love to see the new Parkhead managerial appointment impose a similar influence on Turnbull.

He recalled: ‘Dick Advocaat, as an outstanding coach, recognised straight away what he had.

‘I played against Barry, he was a proper player, one of the best of his generation, who could do a bit of everything.

‘I know he was very much a playmaker but also a fantastic finisher with the ball, something we’ve all seen David Turnbull do many times.

‘Barry predominantly dropped a bit deeper later on. Turnbull can do a bit of that too.

‘But when you’ve got that goal threat from the middle of the park, breaking into those positions, goals win you games and he’s going to get better than that. A real big threat.

‘His physical attributes are there. He’s got an unbelievable engine, he goes box-to-box, covers the ground.

‘He’s a team player who works his socks off. I think he’s a manager’s dream.

‘So the new manager moving into Celtic will look at Turnbull as Advocaat looked at Barry and think: “This boy has just so much potential and so much quality”.

‘He’s going to be delighted to walk in there and, first and foremost, see that he’s already got an exceptional talent in the middle of the park.

‘But the exciting thing is he’ll think: “I can make him better”. Just like Advocaat did by guiding Barry’s career so much in those first couple of seasons.’

Turnbull was a £3million purchase from Motherwell last August — 14 months after a knee issue showed up on his Celtic medical and initially destroyed a dream move.

The 21-year-old can now reflect calmly on the episode in the knowledge that discovering the problem and subsequent surgery may have saved his career.

His comeback story, featuring all the struggles endured in between those close seasons, has created a mental fortitude perfect for surviving a long and healthy Parkhead career.

‘Barry was a winner with a strong mentality and see loads of those qualities in Turnbull,’ noted Coyle.

‘When someone has such a traumatic injury as that kid and comes back like Turnbull has, that tells me straight away he has unbelievable mental strength.

‘Sometimes an injury can completely hold a career back. Many haven’t recovered to the extent he has.

‘It’s not only the injury but the timing of it. Because he was linked with big moves and was on the brink of joining Celtic.

‘For someone to come back from that to play at the level he has this year is phenomenal.

‘And he’s going to be better next year. We all know when you’ve had a serious injury, you don’t come back, click your fingers and everything falls into place. It probably takes six, nine months to get back up to speed.

‘I think he’s been a shining light in a disappointing season for Celtic.

‘He’s stood out and he’s thought: “I’m going to be a top player for this club”. But, as we all know, it doesn’t just take ability to play for Celtic. It takes a huge mental capacity.

‘Over the years, we’ve seen fantastic players go to Celtic and Rangers who don’t have the mentality to deal with the demands.

‘This kid has it. After what he’s been through, he’s going to be such a strong player for Celtic next season and moving forward for many seasons to come.’

Through his Fir Park connections, Coyle couldn’t avoid hearing of the hype surrounding a teenage

Turnbull even before he broke into the Motherwell first team. And throughout the Indian Super League season just gone, he’s listened to his Jamshedpur skipper Peter Hartley’s rave reviews. Former Burnley and Bolton boss Coyle is convinced a transfer to the English top flight will be on offer to Turnbull in the seasons to come. He said: ‘There’s no doubt big Premier League clubs in England will be keeping an eye on how well he’s doing. ‘A number of years at Celtic will serve him well. Once he’s become an integral part, as he will be, then he might not want to leave the club anyway.

‘But what he has in abundance, I would suggest, tells you he’s going to be an outstanding star for club and country. ‘When you’ve energy to go boxto-box to score a goal, those players are worth their weight in gold, worth an absolute fortune.

‘And he will be. As much as Celtic have made the investment, that investment will grow and grow.’

Turnbull’s 34-appearance breakthrough year with Motherwell in 2018/19 convinced Neil Lennon to persuade the Celtic board to make their move.

As an outlay to a provincial Scottish club, it’s significant. And that, says Coyle, gave heavy hint about Turnbull’s ability when Celtic have turned down the chance to sign other hot young Scots for less.

‘The fact the fee was £3m tells you two things,’ said Coyle.

‘One is the esteem in which he was held at Motherwell.

‘They’ve had terrific young players recently but when they know they’ve something really special, you can understand why they wanted as much as they could get for him.

‘And, two, in fairness to Celtic, they pursued it vigorously and paid the money. So they totally believed in him.

‘They’ve come in for criticism for recruitment but sometimes you’ve got to give plaudits.

‘The investment in Turnbull is going to look fantastic.

‘He’s shown he will way surpass that value. In fact, he’s done it already.’