DETERMINATION, DEDICATION & DELIGHT

David Turnbull on working hard to prove his worth as Celtic’s latest signing

- JOE DONNELLY

IN June last year, Motherwell starlet David Turnbull was on the cusp of becoming Celtic’s first signing of the 2019 summer transfer window. Instead, he spent a year on the side-lines at Fir Park recovering from an undiscovered, and therefore undiagnosed, knee injury.

Having climbed the ranks at Motherwell’s youth academy, the young midfielder, then 19-years-old, was scouted following his 16-goals and seven-assists tally in 34 appearances during the 2018/19 trail for Stephen Robinson’s first team. That campaign, the Hoops clinched the Treble Treble and, having been appointed as Celtic manager on a full-time basis thereafter, Neil Lennon pinpointed Turnbull as possibly the first signing of his second spell in charge of his boyhood team.

Turnbull was invited to the club’s Lennoxtown training facility to meet his would-be colleagues, then down to the stadium to finalise contract terms. During his medical, however, an underlying and potentially career-threatening knee problem was spotted and, suddenly, all bets were off.

Surgery followed, as did several months of rehabilitation, countless hours in the gym, more hours on the training pitch, and, eventually, five appearances for Motherwell and one goal upon his return to competitive football at the beginning of this season. Last week, Turnbull’s journey went full-circle when the 21-year-old signed a four-year deal at the nine-in-a-row champions.

“I’m absolutely delighted to join Celtic, especially after everything that’s went on over the last year,” said Turnbull in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “To join the biggest club in Scotland, I’m just delighted! Looking back, the injury was the worst time of my life, really.