It didn’t take long for the door to open for David Turnbull. One week in and, bang, the Scot has been presented with a chance to reclaim his place in Celtic’s midfield.
Then again, competition for places in Ange Postecoglou’s side is as fierce as it has ever been so Turnbull knows if he gets the chance to replace Reo Hatate in Dingwall today, then he’ll have to grab it with both hands – and not let go. The Scotland star came off the bench for the opening-day win over Aberdeen and is now hoping he has done enough in training to force his way into the starting 11. An injury to Hatate means Postecoglou will need to mix up his team and there is likely to be a vacant slot Turnbull is keen to fill against Ross County.
He admitted: “Last week I felt I came on and I had to try to make an impact in the game, as you do every week. Whether it’s starting or on the bench you just have to go out and give 100 per cent. I will do that.” Postecoglou has added Aaron Mooy, Alexandro Bernabei, Benji Siegrist and Moritz Jenz to the squad that lifted the title last season.
Turnbull knows there is a real strength and depth in the Celtic squad and that is helping to push up standards from within.
He said: “Yes, there are a lot of bodies and there is good competition. Everyone who has come in has made a difference and added to the team.
“That can only go well for everyone else. It steps up the levels in training and in games. It’s good. A club like Celtic is a huge club and you know you’re going to face competition.
“Everyone knows that, whoever comes here. There are great players all around us and it’s just about working hard together as a team and trying to push your way in there.”
Turnbull and Celtic are well aware of the importance of building up some early Premiership momentum before the Champions League kicks in. The Hoops have the added luxury over their rivals of having already guaranteed group stage football.
Turnbull said: “It’s different to the past few seasons. We have gone straight into the league stuff with no qualifiers before it, but that gave us more time to work on things.
“It’s good to know we have already qualified and we don’t have to go through them this summer, but you want to play every game. Whether it’s qualifiers or not they are always important for everyone.”
Celtic will soon be facing the challenge of balancing their domestic and Champions League games against some of Europe’s elite in the group stages.
Turnbull added: “Come September we will start playing more games in midweek and the games will really come thick and fast. You obviously know the big names that are in there.
“I’ve not really looked at the pots but you know there will be good teams, really top-level teams in each pot. It will be good to see who we get. All young boys are the same when growing up. You watch these games in the Champions League every midweek.
“You watch as many as you can and you wish and hope that one day you will be playing in it yourself. It’s just great for that to come round this season. It will be a good experience and I can’t wait.”
Before then all eyes are on Dingwall and everyone at Celtic knows they will have to dig deep and fight for every ball.
The champions registered two wins against Ross County in the Highlands last season. They were pushed all the way in December before an Anthony Ralston goal deep into stoppage time narrowly claimed a dramatic win.
It kept the Hoops within touching distance of Rangers and was a big result in terms of changing the momentum and allowing Postecoglou’s side to go on and claim the title.
Celtic then won 2-0 on their last visit in the top-six split against Malky Mackay’s squad.
Turnbull admitted: “I’m looking forward to it. It will be a good game. i played in that game [with the Ralston winner] the week before the League Cup Final last season.
“It was a massive game and it was a tough game. We went up there and we knew what to expect.
“They gave us a good game and we had to fight until the very last kick of the ball and Tony got the goal and it was a great feeling. Hopefully we don’t leave it as late this time but it was a great game.
“It was not ideal during the game but the feeling we got when we scored the late goal, no other feeling matches it. Every goal counts. Every goal is a big goal for us. You always want to win every match you go into.
“The fact it’s a goal in the first minute or a goal in the last minute, you just have to get on with it and play your own game and keep fighting.
“It was just great to get the three points and it was a bit of a turning point that set us off on a good run.”
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