Turnbull is back in the picture after Rodgers replaced Ange Postecoglou but as things stand, will leave on a free next summer.
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Brendan Rodgers has told David Turnbull it’s up to him to win a new deal at Celtic.
The Scotland midfielder is in the last year of his contract and was a forgotten man under previous boss Ange Postecoglou. But the 24-year-old was handed a start on the opening day by Rodgers and bagged a double in Celtic’s 4-2 win against Ross County. Now the manager says it’s up to Turnbull to secure his long-term future at Parkhead.
He said: “That’s the responsibility of the player. David is a talent. He maybe hasn’t quite hit the heights of what his talent is. I spoke to him in pre-season and said it would be a shame if he didn’t achieve what he could at the club. But he is a player I really like. I love his care with the ball, his passing and his efficiency. He gets in the box, scores and could have had a hat-trick against Ross County. It is a door that is open for him. He maybe hasn’t played as much as he would like but that is his responsibility.
Turnbull insists he’s ready to take up Rodgers’ challenge. The Hoops midfielder made just 10 starts under Ange Postecoglou last season, completing 90 minutes just twice. But the 24-year-old says it feels like a fresh start under Rodgers.
And after the manager threw down the gauntlet to him regarding an extension, Turnbull said: “I’m up for that challenge. I’m not thinking about it (a contract) just now. I’m just going to play my football, try my best in every game and what will be will be.
“We’ll need to wait and see, I’m just focusing on my game but, of course, I want to stay here. The County game was a big opportunity for me and I took it. To get two goals and a good result for the team always helps. It feels like a new lease of life for me. And long may that continue.
“Last season was tough. I had a few niggles at the start of the season and didn’t get as many opportunities as I’d have liked – but hopefully I can put that right.”
(Image: SNS Group) Celtic got the job done against County, with Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley also on the scoresheet in a 4-2 win.
After a nervy start, Rodgers’ side were too good for Malky Mackay’s men and the manager said: “When you play against a team that man marks you, it takes time to work through it. We got a penalty and that settled everything down. The second goal was terrific from Kyogo.
“Ten we had a great cross from Matt and David finished it. Some of our goals were very incisive.
“I spoke a lot in pre-season about penetrating and getting in behind because we have so much speed in the team. Once you do that, you can create space in front to control the game.
“Against the ball, though, we’ll get much better – we have to.”
