Summer Celtic target David Turnbull is closing in on a return to action.
The midfielder made a massive impact in the second half of last season and would have been Neil Lennon’s first signing after being given the Celtic job on a permanent basis.
Motherwell jumped the gun by issuing a statement that a fee had been agreed between the two clubs which prompted his agent, Liam Donnelly, into fairly public negotiations with Norwich City.
Turnbull decided to go for the Celtic option but during his medical it emerged that urgent surgery was needed on a knee that put the transfer on ice.
This season Tom Rogic and Olivier Ntcham have struggled to get game time in Lennon’s side but having declared their interest in June Celtic are certain to be watching developments at Fir Park.
The Daily Record reports:
“We won’t see him before the end of December. There’s no way we will rush David back. It’s a long-term view of making sure he is 100 per cent. We don’t need to rush David back, he is with the medical staff who are doing very well.
“He is making great progress and it’s about holding him back and making sure that he doesn’t push himself too far too soon.”
Asked if the Scotland Under 21 star was even being pencilled in for a return in the Scottish Cup clash with Dundee immediately after the winter break, Robinson added: “I don’t know. To be honest I speak to him every day and I don’t put any pressure on him at all because if David had his way he would probably play tomorrow but that’s not going to be the case.
“We will do things properly with David and ensure we are edging on the side of caution. A team with him and Liam Polworth in it would maybe make me sit down and relax a bit more knowing that we are not going to give the ball away too many times but we will be patient with that because ultimately we want David back not breaking down and being 100 per cent again.”
On the park Motherwell haven’t suffered without Turnbull with Robinson’s side looking well capable of finishing in the top six
After the failed medical there was talk of Motherwell giving the midfielder a new contract but that hasn’t happened, his current deal runs until June 2021.