Turnbull warns Rangers they have title fight on their hands
Celtic midfielder David Turnbull has fired a title warning to Rangers after insisting that the Parkhead side are finding their old form again ahead of the New Year derby showdown at Ibrox.
Saturday's win over Hamilton was Celtic's fifth in a row, a streak which has co-incided with Turnbull's regular inclusion in the first team after taking time to make his breakthrough following his summer move from Motherwell.
“It feels like we’ re getting back into the groove again,” Turnbull said. “We’re going into every game with confidence again, we’ re scoring goals and winning games. It feels good.
“We had been struggling, but then got the result in the Lille game and we’ve just kicked on. Everybody who has played has done well, we’re playing well as a team and hopefully we continue to do that.”
Celtic can still overturn the 16- point margin Rangers boast at the top of the Premiership, with three games in hand and three to come against Steven G err a rd’ s team. But it requires a continuation of positive results, starting at home against Dundee United tomorrow and then the Old Firm trip to Ibrox on Saturday.
“Ever y game is a big game and tough. We’ll be looking to get positive results in all of our games as our aim is to really start putting a run together," Turnbull added.
“There’ s obviously a belief within the dressing room that we can still win the league. We believe in each other every day and are just going to keep doing what we are doing.”
Turnbull is rekindling the form that prompted Celtic to re-visit Mother well for his signature, a year after a first transfer bid failed due to a knee problem. After surgery, his return persuaded Neil
Lennon to give him a second chance at a Celtic career.
But his was a slow burner, starting just one match until three weeks ago when pitched in against Lille. He scored and hasn’t looked back since.
“When I wasn’ t playing he [Lennon] was always talking to me, telling me to bide my time and assuring me that my chance would come. He showed faith in me and I really hope I’ve repaid that.”
With the January transfer window looming large, Scotsman Sport looks at a key member of every Scottish Premiership club who will be able to sign a pre-contract with another side next month.
TOMMIE HOBAN (Aberdeen)
It’s no insult to Aberdeen to wonder whether they’d have been able to bring a defender of Hoban’s quality back to the club if it weren’t for his alarming injury history. Derek MCInnes put trust in the 26-yearold getting himself fit and has been repaid with a string of impressive performances. Hoban extended his initial short-term contract in October until the end of the season and the Dons will have a fight on their hands if they want a player with English Championship pedigree to hang around any longer.
CONOR HAZARD (Celtic)
Scott Brown is also on an expiring contract but let’ s assume it’s only a matter of time before the club legend signs a new deal. Hazard has been Neil Lennon’ s preference between the sticks for the reigning champions as they’ve won their last five games, looking largely assured as he’ s played ahead of S cot tB a in and Vasilis Bark as. Celtic will have an eye on improving in the goalkeeper position in the near future, but they’ll also want to keep a 22-year-old with plenty of potential.
NICKY CLARK (Dundee Utd)
Although it isunc ertain whether Clark deserves a spot in United’s strongest XI, given the presence of Scottish internationals Lawrence Shankland and Marc Mcnult y, there is no doubt the former Rangers man has been a key member of the Tannadice squad this campaign, leading the team in scoring with 10 goals in 21 matches. At 29 and in his maiden top -flight season, if United want to keep him around it’s likely he’ll stay.
HAKEEM ODOFFIN (Hamilton Accies)
Signing a back-up right-back from L ivings ton didn’ t make a lot of waves in Hamilton last summer, but Odoffin, pictured above, has proven himself an excellent squad player capable of filling in competently at centre-back and centre-midfield. At just 22 years of age, it’s hard to imagine he isn’t on the radar of richer Scottish Premiership sides.
The Englishman has been transformed from an out-ofsorts winger to a Rolls Royce of a centre-midfielder across the course of Jack Ross’ tenure at Easter Road. Contract talks appear to have stalled after initial discussions in November and it’s likely the 27-yearold will look to see if there’s interest from down south and a potential one last big payday before he moves into the twilight years of his career.
EAMONN BROPHY (Kilmarnock)
The Rugby Park side have an astonishing number of players who are in the last six months of their deal; we could have focused on just about any member of the firstteam. Instead we’ve plumped for Brophy, who is suffering through his toughest season since signing for Killie from Hamilton Accies in 2017. He’s scored just three times and has often started from the bench. For someone who was in the S cotland squad no to o long ago, there is plenty to consider when January arrives.
JON GUTHRIE (Livingston)
The centre-back didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by his performances last season in the early part of this campaign, but Guthrie, pictured right, has returned to his previous stellar form in recent weeks as Livi have gone on a winning run under David Mar tindale. A no -nonsense defender who is a real threat in the opposition box, Guthrie will likely be on the radar of several clubs, both in Scotland and England, and the Lions would do very well to convince him to extend his stay.
One of the few bright spots from what’ s been a rough campaign for the Lanarkshire club, Campbell is expected to depart Fir Park at some point in the near future, be it a precontract or a permanent move in the January window. The young centre -midfielder is as all-action as they come; a real imposing force capable of halting opponents and driving his team forward. Hibs have been credited with serious interest.
STEVEN DAVIS (Rangers)
The Ibr ox side will have already begun planning for the future in the defensive midfield position, but there’s been very little indication that there’s any pressing need to move on from the veteran Northern Irish international.
He’s been a picture of consistency in front of the back four, constantly running matches from midfield with his vision and range of passing.
ROSS STEWART (Ross County)
Another who seems fairly likely to depart next summer, though someone who hasn’t lived up to his talismanic status with his current team this term. There’s no doubting the quality of the former Kilwinning Rangers forward, but two league goals (and none since August) among a bundle of chances missed just hasn’ t been good enough. It’s unlikely to put off many admirers, however, as they can easily point to County’s dreadful form overall as a justifiable excuse. STEVIE MAY (St Johnstone)
The former Scottish international has scored 10 goals this season, the first time he has managed that since his breakout campaign in 2013/14 made him an instantly recognisable star. It seems he and Saints were made for each other and it’s an easy enough route for the two parties to come to an agreement over a new deal. Having rebuilt his confidence in front of goal, it will be interesting to see whether May would like another crack at English football, though.
JAKE DOYLE-HAYES (St Mirren)
Boss Jim Goodwin is desperate to get the midfielder signed up to a new contract and it’s easy to see why. The Paisley club haven’t lost a game with him in the star ting XI as his combativeness and ass urance on the ball have taken his new team’s play up a level. At 21 years old he has a promising future and St Mirren are war y of keeping him under wraps until they can get him tied down to an improved deal.