Ange Postecoglou reveals unexpected injury boost

David Turnbull appears to be on course to return to action by the end of this month. 

The midfielder pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first half of the League Cup Final on December 19- his 33rd Celtic appearance of the season. 

Initially the injury seemed to be getting measured in terms of months out of action but it seems that the timescale has been drastically reduced. 

The signings of Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi has given Ange Postecoglou additional midfield options but the stats of the former Motherwell man illustrate his importance to the hoops. 

Speaking to the Daily Record about Turnbull, the Celtic boss said: 

It’s hard to put a timeline on it. But he’s working hard in rehab and feels good at how it’s going. 

It’s a matter of weeks, rather than anything longer. But he played a lot of football in the first half of the season and he’s probably one of the ones who suffered because of that. 

When he does come back we’ll be able to balance it a bit more with the reinforcements we’ve brought in. 

From getting his Celtic chance last season at home to Lille Turnbull put in almost a year of constant football with his summer taken up by the European Championships as part of the Celtic squad. 

Getting a five or six week break to reset his fitness should give Postecoglou a very important option to add to his side as the second transfer window brings a new look to the Celtic side.

On December 27 it was being reported that Turnbull was facing two months out due to his hamstring injury.