Medical expert: Turnbull is a ‘victim’ as two-month Celtic lay-off expected
David Turnbull is a “victim” of the current hectic football programme and his hamstring injury could rule him out for “eight weeks” at Celtic.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Turnbull was visibly upset when he was forced to withdraw 25 minutes into the Hoops’ 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibs last Sunday (19 December).
As per the Daily Record later that day, manager Ange Postecoglou said: “David suffered from the amount of games we are playing at the moment.”
Turnbull has started all 34 of the Hoops’ matches this season, a run stretching back to the Champions League qualifiers in July.
Dinnery explained how fatigue will have been a major factor in the 22-year-old midfielder’s setback.
“Unfortunately, these injuries are inevitable,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“He’s a victim of the fixture list. Celtic have been involved in domestic cup duty and have also had European action.
“This was the sixth game that Celtic have been involved in December alone. That’s a game every three days.
“Turnbull plays in the engine room in midfield. That means covering lots of distance and a lot of high-intensity sprints. He then isn’t getting the amount of rest he needs.
“The fact it is a cup final raises the levels of expectation and pressure too. You want to go out there and push yourself and impress.
“Hamstrings are highly susceptible to fatigue because of the stresses that go through that muscle. It can be anywhere between four and eight weeks.”
Turnbull’s appearances in 2021-22 have yielded nine goals and seven assists.
Celtic’s League Cup triumph was their fifth in six seasons.
In other news, Celtic warned by English pundit about “overboard celebrations” amid “runaway” Rangers claim.