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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Jonathan McFarlane

Celtic's David Turnbull substitutions blasted as Frank McAvennie remains baffled by management of 'future superstar'

Frank McAvennie admits he's scratching his head over Neil Lennon's decision to substitute star man David Turnbull so often during matches.

The former Motherwell man has been taken off in the second half of each of his last eight matches despite a string of excellent Celtic perfromances.

The 21-year-old did spend almost the entirety of last out with a serious knee injury after a 2019 move to the Hoops was scuppered by a shock medical finding.

He has since recovered well, finally getting his big move in the summer and establishing himself as a key man under Lennon.

McAvennie has been blown away by the youngster's impact in the Hoops, branding him a future "superstar" but questions how much he will appreciate being taken off before 90 minutes is up.

(SNS Group)

He told Football Insider: “Why is Turnbull being taken off in every match? That is the big question.

“As a player I would not be happy so maybe something is wrong. I could be speaking out of turn. As a player, you do not like being taken off. It might be a wee niggling thing with Turnbull.

“You cannot continually take a player off. He did it with Tom Rogic and he was never happy. You cannot do that to a boy as good as Turnbull.

"The boy is going to be a superstar.

“As a player, you understand being taken off every now and again but every game? No.

“He is coming off after 70 minutes and he’s still winning man of the match. That says everything.” 

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