Former Fir Park stars’ Scots progress hailed
Their football journeys have been intertwined for most of their careers - and Gordon Young reckons Motherwell academy graduates Allan Campbell and David Turnbull’s inclusion with Scotland is a testament to their ML1 upbringing.
The midfielders have been in Steve Clarke’s squad this week, first for the World Cup play-off semi-final defeat against Ukraine where they did not feature.
UEFA Nations League matches against Armenia – both home and away – and Republic of Ireland in the next week or so follow before June is done.
It’s Campbell’s first time in the senior side while Turnbull has four caps for his country. Both came into ‘Well’s academy when Young was academy director, and he knew he had gems on his hands.
Turnbull - who hails from Wishaw - was eventually sold for a club-record fee to Celtic in 2020 while his former midfield partner joined Luton Town last year, helping the English Championship club into promotion play-off territory.
Ryan Jack’s injury has brought about the latter’s spot in Clarke’s plans and Young insists it’s a credit to both families and their boyhood club that navy blue contention has beckoned.
He said: “It’s fantastic for the two players. They are two different types of players. One is incredibly gifted, the other is unbelievably hard-working.
“Both go hand-in-hand. As much as I am pleased for the players, I am pleased for their families. It’s an opportunity for them to really benefit from the hard work they have put in.
“For them to enjoy that, I am really pleased for them. I think with five games being played, the full squad will be used, given the time of year it is.
“So much emphasis is put on the Nations League now so there’s a massive opportunity to qualify for the next major tournament through this format.”
Young knows how much hard work is put in to bring young players through at Motherwell.
Keeping the likes of Campbell, Turnbull, Chris Cadden, James Scott and Jake Hastie is difficult amid interest elsewhere, but the former academy chief reckons it’s been proven that there’s skill in picking the right move.
He added: “These are people who bought into our methodology. They believed that if they stayed at Motherwell, they would earn their move at the right time.
“None of them let their heads get turned. More importantly, their families never let their heads get turned. Our mantra was stay here until a team wants you as a first-team player.
“I think Allan can go and kick on again, no disrespect to Luton. He’s a very prominent player in their team. He’s first pick and justifiably so. Both of the guys are at the right age.
“We’d rather that than they go as a young kid and get swallowed up in the system.
“It’s a testament to the club’s DNA that things like this happen.”