TURNBULL TICKS ALL THE BOXES
Architect of killer passes that can split even the tightest of defences Direct runner whose midfield bursts set up chances for others And a player whose predatory instincts can sniff out way to goal
WITH David Turnbull, the killer pass is always on. The ball that bisects a defence, exposes the bare half-yard left uncovered and invites team-mates to go leaping, sprinting or simply sauntering in on goal? It’s his stock in trade.
That’s what sets him apart. And it’s what makes him a must-have for Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
The reigning champions have plenty of midfielders on their books, of course. Nor are they short of game breakers.
Even just over a month on from his 21st birthday, however, Turnbull has qualities that would give a strong Celtic team one more very useful weapon in their armoury.
Because, yes, he can eliminate opponents with his direct running. Goals? He’s got them in his game, too, clearly.
But his ability to move the ball quickly, accurately and with genuine intent to punish adds value.
Against opposition content to sit in and create blocks all over the park, reducing passing lanes to dark and forbidding alleys in a bid to delay and disrupt, a guy who can do that — on top of all the other things — makes even the most hard-bitten scout grow a little giddy.
For those who have watched Turnbull develop and grow, riding tackles and somehow bouncing back from the devastating collapse of his £3million move to Celtic just over a year ago, he’s simply a footballer to be admired and enjoyed.
Former Motherwell and Scotland great James McFadden, a guy who should recognise quality when he sees it, said: ‘David Turnbull is a special talent — and one that doesn’t come around very often.
‘I wouldn’t go as far as to say he is the best young player to come through in recent years; we’ve had Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor.
‘But it’s not often you get a player as technically gifted as David coming through an academy. Some others have had more unconventional routes to the top.
‘I just think Turnbull is so intelligent and technically gifted that it’s difficult to compare to him. It’s tough to produce players like that. He’s got an aura on the pitch.’
There are certainly times when it looks as if Turnbull has one of those Sky Sports ‘tactics table’ highlights following him around the pitch.
That’s because team-mates and opponents both understand what will happen if he’s given any kind of breathing room.
Even when tightly marked, he’s able to twist and turn away from his man. And then do what he does best.
Bare statistics don’t show up his creativity; there’s something wrong in any system that measures this kind of obvious talent by pointing to zero assists as a black mark.
The evidence of our own eyes tells us that it’s almost always Turnbull setting up his Motherwell team-mates for shots on goal.
Put him in a team with more natural finishers and the assists are guaranteed to follow.
Last June, of course, Celtic thought so highly of the youngster that they were willing to pay serious money — with the promise of more to follow — in order to get him in early.
Only when his medical revealed a knee problem, one requiring an operation and six months out of football, did that move fall through.
Continuing the theme of outrageous misfortune, Turnbull’s successful return to the Motherwell first team in February was cut short by lockdown. He made just two appearances from the bench, totalling less than 50 minutes of football, when the entire league shut up shop.
The versatile midfielder has started all five Scottish Premiership games for Motherwell this season, finding the net once in the 2-2 draw with Livingston.
In a struggling team, he still catches the eye.
More importantly, he doesn’t appear to have suffered any ill effects as a result of that knee operation.
The missing half-yard some feared is noticeable by its absence.
‘I’m glad to see him back because he was out for a long time,’ said BBC Scotland
Sportscene analyst McFadden. ‘The early end to last season has hopefully given him time to get his fitness and strength back.
‘When he came back last season from the knee problem that halted his move to Celtic, we never got a chance to see him playing regularly because he only got a handful of games.
‘I think teams have been waiting to see just how he recovers — and, to me, he looks like he has fully recovered.
‘Against Hibs, he looked back to his best and he’ll only get better. He’s got a great footballing brain. He’s got the lot.
‘For his goal against Livingston, he makes it look as if he’s got loads of time.
‘He manages to find that time and space — he knows how to and that’s what top players do.
‘Even against Ross County, he was played off the left-hand side, but he came inside and influenced the game, playing a brilliant pass for Chris Long, who ended up hitting the post.
‘At Easter Road, I thought he was brilliant at getting on the ball and finding space, while his range of passing and vision were excellent.’
He’s a special prospect, all right. A player of vision — and the ability to act on what he sees. Even if Celtic have more pressing priorities elsewhere, the opportunity to add that sort of quality can’t be missed.
“It’s not often you get a player as technically gifted as David coming through an academy”