David Turnbull reckons he’s getting more kip due to Ange Postecoglou ’s all-action approach.
But the Celtic star is wide awake with excitement over the team’s impressive displays and being part of a dreamy midfield alongside born-again Tom Rogic and super skipper Callum McGregor.
Turnbull and his team-mates are reaping the rewards of buying into the high-octane methods of their new manager.
Postecoglou is placing big demands on his troops with potent intent and attacking aggression at the heart of his philosophy.
The boss admits himself it’s a physical challenge for the squad and wants more signings secured to boost quality and numbers and to provide the current group the rest and rotation needed to maintain their tempo.
Turnbull afforded himself a smile when asked if the exertions led to doing more sleeping as he laughed: “Maybe a wee bit. I’ve always been a bit of a napper!”
But Celtic ’s stars are seeing the hard work rewarded with five straight wins now under the new gaffer and the midfielder loves being part of the positive plan.
Turnbull continued: “He’s always demanding more of us, whether it’s in training or in games.
“He’s always telling us before and at half-time to keep working hard, keep pressing for the team and win the ball back and that gets a good reaction from everybody. It’s been good.
“That’s the way he wants us to play and everybody is buying into it and it’s working on the pitch so far. We all want to go out there and express ourselves and that’s what we’re doing.
“We’re working hard in training, but at the moment it’s a tough schedule, so there’s not as much training as we’d like.
“That’s what I’m sure all the boys would want and, personally, I’m feeling a lot fitter. I’m feeling great and it looks like everybody else is as well.
“It’s just getting his ideas across and getting boys in and the team that he feels is right at the moment. We are all gelling together. It’s working so far, so long may it continue.”
Within the collective, individuals are beginning to really shine.
New signings such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada have immediately caught the eye in the attacking sense with Ryan Christie and James Forrest also sparkling.
Turnbull is part of an engine-room that is purring with the classy McGregor and sublime Rogic hitting top form.
The ex-Motherwell man loves being within that unit and said: “We know what Tom can do, he’s magic on the ball.
“I have played against him a good few times so I knew how good he was. And training with him all last year and this year you can see his class and he brings that to the table. That’s what we’re wanting.
“And I love playing with Cal when he’s sitting behind me he always finds the ball and he manages to find me or Tom in the pocket. It’s great to play with both of them.”
Defensively, Celtic are also on the improve with three clean sheets earned in their last four games.
New keeper Joe Hart has added experience and youngsters Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh who are really pushing up their levels.
The pair were outstanding in the 2-0 Europa League Play off first leg win over AZ Alkmaar with Postecoglou describing the right-back as “unbelievable.”
Hart made key saves at crucial times in the first leg victory over the dangerous Dutch to cement his status between the sticks.
Turnbull said: “Since Joe has come in he’s been excellent. You see the save he pulled off on Wednesday night in the first few minutes. That’s what we need.
“Every game we’ve played he’s looked very comfortable and he’s playing the way we want to as well.
“It was a tough game, we knew going into it that we had to be on our game and we were and we came out with the win.
“It gives us a lot of confidence, and the past few games as well, it’s breeding through the team and everyone else involved. I think you see that on the pitch. It’s just about continuing with that.”
Celtic face St Mirren in the Premiership tomorrow looking for a fifth-straight win on their own patch and Turnbull says the return of punters to Parkhead has helped drive the current run.
He said: “The fans have been brilliant since the first game they came back. It’s great to see them all and the noise is incredible.
“If maybe somebody has taken a bad touch or whatever, they get right behind them. And it’s just about us working hard and, hopefully, they see the rewards as well.
“It was tough last year without them. I hadn’t experienced it, but definitely coming into this season they’ve got right behind us and that’s what the team needed.
“They’re pushing us on and it’s great.”
