Celtic star David Turnbull has revealed how former boss Neil Lennon helped him improve his game, as he reflected on a 'weird' spell since joining the Hoops last summer.
The 21-year-old midfielder, from Wishaw, has gone from strength to strength since his £3m move from Motherwell in August and has been one of the few shining lights in a nightmare campaign for Celtic, which has seen their 10-in-a-row dreams end with a whimper.
Rangers are just seven points away from ending Celtic's near decade of dominance, but for Turnbull himself it has been an impressive season that could culminate in a call-up to the national squad for Euro 2021.
In June 2019 a dream move to Celtic fell through with the player needing knee surgery.
Since finally sealing his switch, Turnbull has become the first name on the team-sheet and the Premiership's player of the month in December has been Celtic's most consistent performer.
After watching Lennon leave the club on Monday, Turnbull thanked his former boss for helping him develop.
He told Daily Record: “Lenny was always great with me. After games he would take me into his office and give me wee tips here and there.
“How I could maybe do better and stuff like that.
“He encouraged me to shoot from distance – he must have seen what I could do from my days at 'Well.
“He was always urging me to be positive and to get into positions on the pitch to make things happen.
“So I thank him for bringing me here but the fact he did so was also down to my getting back performing well.
“It has been a weird year.
“On a personal level, it has been good. I have got a lot of good games under my belt.
“It is a team game, though. We want to get as many good results as we can but we have not done that enough."
Collectively, Celtic have under-performed and come in for criticism over their Dubai debacle.
A campaign that started with more history within their grasp, is petering out before the Premiership reaches the split.
And Turnbull added: "Obviously, it is not the way Lenny would have wanted to have left the club or how the players would have wanted it to happen.
“But as a group we need to take full responsibility for the season and the way it has gone on.
"I am sure the boys will do that.”
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