DAVID TURNBULL faces a fight to be fit to face Motherwell when the Premiership resumes a week on Saturday.
Celtic’s stylish playmaker was involved in drama before Scotland’s 3-0 UEFA Nations League win over Ukraine at Hampden last night.
There was confusion when it was noted Turnbull was not named among Steve Clarke’s substitutes for the crucial encounter against the country that ended the Scots’ World Cup qualifying hopes at the same venue in June with a 3-1 play-off victory.
The international boss cleared up the mystery afterwards when he told Premier Sports: “David picked up an ankle knock at the weekend we thought would clear up.
CRUNCH…St Mirren centre-back Declan Gallagher throws himself into a slide-tackle on David Turnbull during Celtic’s shock 2-0 loss in Paisley at the weekend.
“It’s not going to clear up in time, so he’s better to go back to his club and get ready for their next game.”
Turnbull toiled in the 2-0 loss to St Mirren in Paisley on Sunday before being replaced by Giorgos Giakoumakis in the 57th minute.
No injury problem was apparent at the time, but it’s clear he has had a reaction after joining the Scots squad and the Hoops medics will now work on him to try to get him fit for the squad for the visit of his former Fir Park team in nine days’ time.
Scotland, who beat the Ukrainians with a 70th-minute opener from skipper John McGinn and a double from substitute Lyndon Dykes, now face the Republic of Ireland in Glasgow on Saturday night before the trip to Krakow in Poland for another tussle with Ukraine on Tuesday.
CALMAC AND CO ARE HIGH AND MIGHTY
