Turnbull finally 'feels like a Cardiff player'

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

David Turnbull admits he finally feels like a Cardiff City player having been handed a prominent role under interim boss Omer Riza.

The midfielder joined the Bluebirds from Celtic in January and initially was a regular under Erol Bulut.

However, he has endured a tough start to the current campaign, with a combination of injury and non-selection seeing him play just once in six games under Bulut - who was sacked after a 2-0 defeat by Leeds United.

Turnbull featured as a substitute in Riza's first two matches as caretaker boss and has started the wins over Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old admits he is grateful to Riza for the faith the former Leyton Orient boss has shown in him.

"Even when I wasn't playing he kept me involved, the same with the other boys聽so he's been brilliant in that way," said Turnbull.

"In the past few games, I feel like a Cardiff player now.聽

"I know I can play at this level, I know I can impact games and I think that's what you're starting to see and I just hope for many more to come."

Cardiff have picked up 10 points from their last four matches to climb out of the Championship's relegation zone.

Turnbull feels the clarity and methods offered by Riza have been pivotal in the Bluebirds' upturn in form.

"Since Riza has come in, he's given us a kind of style of football that the boys want to play, and he wants to play," he added.

"Everybody knows what they're doing, to a man, and it suits the boys. It's good football, good on the eye and it's working so far."