Is Turnbull the magic man Clarke will need?

STEPHEN Craigan has long been prepared to argue on David Turnbull’s behalf – now he says it is time the Celtic ace fought his own battles if he wants to convince Steve Clarke to make him a key man for Scotland this summer.

Craigan played a key role in the 21-year-old’s path to Parkhead stardom when he was his under-20s coach at Motherwell.

The former Fir Park skipper had such faith in Turnbull’s abilities he even found himself at loggerheads with former firstteam boss Stephen Robinson and Scotland Under-18s coach Donald Park as he demanded to know why the midfield playmaker was not being selected.

Clarke took some convincing himself but has now handed the PFA Scotland young player of the year a call-up for his 26-man Euro 2020 squad.

And Craigan is certain it is a decision the Hampden boss will not regret.

“I had David for two-and-ahalf years just before he came into the first team,” said the Premier Sports pundit.

“That’s the small part I played in his development but there are others before and after me who have helped him too.

“But yeah I did phone Donald Park because having watched the U20s league when David was only 16 or 17, I just felt he was the stand-out player.

“Anyone who came to watch my side would say ‘Who’s your number 8? He’s some player’. I remember Neil Lennon doing it after we played Hibs Under-20s and Lenny eventually ended up signing him for Celtic.

“I played him in the Youth Cup final when David was just 16 against guys aged 19 and 20. I wasn’t trying to test him out or see how he’d react. I knew he was good enough.

“Stephen Robinson and I had plenty of heated discussions because I felt he should have been in the first team before he was.

“Ultimately Stephen managed him best because he put him in the team when he was ready and he flourished.

“I understand it can be difficult for first-team and international managers to throw in young players because it’s a results-driven business for them.

“But David has shown at every level he’s stepped up to, he’s been ready for it.

“He has a temperament that allows him to thrive. I’m not saying Steve Clarke will start him but if he looks at his bench and needs a moment of magic, I believe David’s temperament will allow him to do that.”