Motherwell boss hopeful Turnbull will sign new deal

Boss Stephen Robinson is confident that youngster David Turnbull will sign a new contract at Motherwell.

The 19-year-old's current deal is up in the summer and talks over a new contract are ongoing with Southampton reportedly interested in the attacking midfielder.

Ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership encounter with Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday, Robinson said of the former Well academy player: I am confident David will sign.

I haven't been involved too much, Alan (Burrows, chief executive) and his agent have been negotiating it but I think they are making progress. I think both parties want to get it done.

The sooner the better. We are well protected by compensation.

The contract has been on the table for a few months now but these things take time and it has to be right for everybody.

He just needs to concentrate on playing football and let other people worry about getting deals done.''

Turnbull scored the winner in the 1-0 victory over Hibernian at Fir Park on Wednesday night after being set up by fellow teenager Jake Hastie, which was a source of great pride'' to Robinson.

The Northern Irishman said: I'm not sure as a staff we get enough credit for that in terms of you have to be brave as a manager to put them in and we do that.

I believe we have more to come.

It is about putting them in at the right stage and taking them out again and making sure they are ready to go.

They play without fear. There was no fear in their game, they were not afraid to make mistakes.

Jake Hastie has come in, we have to keep his feet on the ground and make sure he continues with that, he has competition for wide areas.

David Turnbull, if we get him to do the defensive side as well as he does the attacking side, could be a special player for us and young Allan (Campbell) as well.''

Motherwell have beaten Dundee twice this season but Robinson noted that Jim McIntyre's side took themselves off the bottom of the table on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win at Tynecastle, their first victory in eight matches.

The Fir Park boss said: They have signed four or five new players so they are going to be a different kettle of fish.

They had a fantastic result at Hearts so they will be buoyed by that.

It is going to be a tough game, it always is. We have been fortunate with results against Dundee in the last year but we take nothing for granted. There is nothing guaranteed.'

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