Celtic duo's Hoops futures assessed as star's ability to replace Nir Bitton hinges on 'big if'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Celtic legend Chris Sutton believes a big summer awaits Wishaw's David Turnbull and Hamilton legend James McCarthy.The pair's minutes have been limited in 2022 as the Hoops marched to Premiership title glory under Ange Postecoglou.Motherwell academy product Turnbull played a big role in the first half of the season before a hamstring injury in December's League Cup final with Hibs curtailed his progress.McCarthy meanwhile returned to Scottish football for the first time since leaving boyhood club Hamilton in 2009, where he is held as the example for young academy players.His stint has been frustrating and overall has featured 22 times, many of which have been from the bench.Fellow midfielders Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton have left but both still have Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi, and Matt O'Riley to wrestle with for starting berths, which could prove difficult.Sutton told the Daily Record: "It might be a crossroads moment for David Turnbull."The Scotland international played a huge part in the first-half of last term when the likes of O’Riley and Hatate were at other clubs.

He carried a burden and delivered."Turnbull paid the price for a heavy schedule when suffering injury in the Premier Sports Cup Final and that allowed O’Riley and Hatate to jump above him in the pecking order when he was working his way through his rehabilitation."Turnbull scored against Motherwell last weekend to offer a reminder of what he can do and, of course, Postecoglou needs a big squad to cope with the demands of another full fixture list."On the Hamilton hero, he added: "I’ve not forgotten James McCarthy.