Ismaila Soro Celtic's other player of month says award-winner David Turnbull

The player of the month award for December scooped by Celtic’s David Turnbull is a well-earned accolade.

Celtic's David Turnbull is presented with December Scottish Premiership player of the month award at Lennoxtown yesterday. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

The £3.5m summer signing from Motherwell admits he has “tried not to look back” since given a run in the team from early December. Yet, the 21-year-old can look beyond his own contribution of four goals and three assists when assessing the platform that has allowed him to cement his place. He recognises the role played by Ismaila Soro in creating that, the 22-year-old having experienced a similar trajectory at Celtic this season.

The pair have revitalised Neil Lennon’s men, with only one league goal conceded - in the 1-0 loss to Rangers last weekend - and four victories in the five league games since they were embedded into a reshaped midfield. And Turnbull commends the Ivorian for coping with the difficulties the Covid-19 pandemic has presented as he had grafted to make a real first of his career in Scotland since a £1.5m move a year ago.

‘Since we changed to that diamond formation it has worked really well,” said Turnbull, the playmaker placed at its apex with defensive screener Soro the base point. ‘It’s good playing with him. He is intelligent and he is also a great tackler. Everybody knows how good he is at winning the ball back and it’s great when he does that. And when he gets it back he is also great at feeding it through to myself and the front boys.

“He is a quiet character. He speaks a wee bit of English but he is still learning the language. He laughs constantly though, and always has a smile on his face. I think it will be tough for him away from the football. Unlike the Scottish lads he’s a long way from him and he’ll need to find things to keep him occupied away from the training ground. He comes in every day and enjoys training, though. Obviously we were away [in Dubia last week] and everybody bonded together. It was good for the team spirit and helped us all get to know each other. It’s definitely helped us that way, and we worked as hard as we could.”

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