Cardiff City coach Erol Bulut is pleased with David Turnbull’s impact but insists the £2 million deadline day signing from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic must improve without the ball.
Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to Cardiff’s deadline day business is that, in some quarters of Glasgow, there was audible surprise when it emerged that the Bluebirds had snapped up Celtic’s Scotland international.
OK, David Turnbull was hardly a nailed-on starter under Brendan Rodgers. But, with seven goals in just nine Premiership starts, arguably the finest long-range shooter north of the border was still a valuable part of a Hoops squad looking to secure another league title from under the noses of a resurgent Rangers.
And, with Cardiff not yet out of the play-off picture, the Scotland international could be a potentially transformative addition to Bulut’s squad. Particularly if he can add some off-the-ball efficiency to his obvious talents in possession.
Celtic sell David Turnbull to Cardiff City
Celtic FC v St. Mirren FC – Cinch Scottish Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
“I think defensively, even last week he did a good job,” Bulut tells Wales Online, Turnbull playing nearly half an hour off the bench on his Cardiff debut in the 1-0 win at Watford.
“He was running a lot backwards and (won) a lot of balls. Maybe he has to add more things to his defensive work. But, last week, he made a lot of high intensity runs.
“(Turnbull) had three years at Celtic in a big team, the Scottish league. He is 24 and also experienced. He played many games and scored and assisted many goals. In the offensive part, he will bring us attempts to try and score or score himself.
“He can read the game and has quality with his passing accuracy and ability to keep the ball. He can make it quick and slow when we need him to be, he can do both sides. He’ll be really effective for us.”
Cardiff still in with a shot at promotion
Celtic legend Chris Sutton, in particular, was left with more questions than answers after Turnbull’s rather unexpected departure. Especially with Reo Hatate, the man who has kept him out of the Hoops XI over the last two years, out of action for a number of weeks.
