David Turnbull can be Celtic driving force as Brendan Rodgers urges star to keep the engine revved

Brendan Rodgers has urged David Turnbull to keep the engine revved-up and be a driving force for Celtic.

The boss has been impressed by the midfielder since his return to Parkhead. Turnbull has caught the eye of his manager in pre-season and Rodgers says the Scotland star has to keep motoring along. The playmaker struggled for regular game time under former manager Ange Postecoglou but is racing in the right direction for his new gaffer. Turnbull, 24, put in an outstanding performance from the bench in James Forrest’s testimonial to grab an assist and a goal in the 3-2 fightback win over Athletic Club.

That impressed Rodgers who said: “Excellent, he was very good. He’s been good in pre-season. I really like him as a footballer – he’s got tools, he’s comfortable on the ball and can score goals. His efficiency is very good. He just needs to keep working and to keep on the move. It’s always important with those players that they don’t turn the engine off.”

Rodgers fielded two separate teams either side of the interval against the La Liga outfit and says he’s been given food for thought in terms of team selection ahead of Saturday’s Premiership opener against Ross County.

He added: “A lot of these guys I don’t know, so for me there is a clean slate for them all. It’s assessing over the course of pre- season, what they’ve done in the past doesn’t really matter. That includes the guys who have worked with me before. In order to have that hunger, that’s how it has to be.”

Forrest believes the squad is in ideal shape going into the curtain-raiser as he said: “All of the team is looking really sharp. “Tuesday was a good run-out for everyone as well and the team is definitely now ready for Saturday and the league.”

Forrest