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David Turnbull ready to repay Motherwell after ‘big shock’ harpooned Celtic transfer

Mathew Nash

Sat 20 June 2020 8:45, UK

David Turnbull has admitted that the injury which scuppered his move to Celtic this time last year came as a ‘big shock’ and also made it clear his immediate focus was on repaying current club Motherwell for everything they have done for him. 

for Celtic to sign the Motherwell youngster was scuppered twice in June. 

First of all, the two parties could not come to terms on a contract. Once that was sorted, Turnbull failed a medical and Celtic pulled the plug. 

A severe knee injury was discovered and Turnbull underwent surgery in London, missing the near entirety of the disrupted 2019-20 Scottish football season. 

Celtic have since been linked with a revamped approach for the player but Turnbull has that he is currently focused on helping to repay the Steelmen and is happy to stay where he is for the time being. 

“It was a big shock. To be playing out my skin every week and then be told that … it was weird.

“The way Motherwell have treated me through everything has been brilliant,” he says. “They looked after me way more than they should have on and off the field.

“I can’t wait to get back playing for the club and I am sure I can get back to the levels I had before the operation. I want to repay them for what they did.”

Undoubtedly, Celtic will be keeping tabs on the player. Neil Lennon is a big fan and when he thought that the Bhoys had won the transfer race for the player, he called it ‘a coup’ of a transfer to bring in the ‘elegant player’. 

“David had options which he was quite right to pursue but thankfully he’s chosen us over Premier League clubs, which is quite a coup for us. He’s a player we’ve admired for a while. He had a great season last year – a breakthrough season. He’s a very good Scottish talent that we want to nurture and bring on. Hopefully he’ll thrive in this environment.

“He’s quite an elegant player. Technically very good, proficient with both feet. He scored 15 goals in 30 goals,which is quite a return for a midfield player. We want him to carry on in the same vein. Could he go straight into the team? Of course he could.”

But if Celtic do want to finally bring Turnbull to Parkhead, they may have to wait until he has repaid his debt to the Fir Park club.