CELTIC midfielder David Turnbull has insisted that the Parkhead players are well used to clocking out any outside noise as they prepare for today’s trip to Dingwall.

The post-mortem following Sunday’s defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden has provided the backdrop to this week with suggestions that the defeat can unnerve Celtic in the title run-in.

“It has been fine,” he said. “We have had a great week. We had the day off on Monday and we came in on Tuesday and put the game behind us. We haven’t really spoken about it. We are just looking forward to the game against Ross County? 

“We had a meeting on Tuesday – but we do that after every game. It is part of our preparations in the lead-up to a new game. The weekend was Callum [McGregor] getting the boys together and just getting us to all look forward to the final push of the season.

“The boys are all focused. We know what we need to do. Everyone is calm about it. We are taking each game as it comes and it is very much about continuing to do what we have been doing all season and just stick to playing out style of football.

“The lads always block out the outside noise. We know we just have to focus on the training pitch and in games and we always take each game as it comes.  

Turnbull was an integral part of the opening months of the season as he formed a midfield triumvirate with McGregor and Tom Rogic. In tears when he left the Hampden pitch in the League Cup final, the midfielder nevertheless maintained that there was never a point when he feared his season might be over.

Now as Celtic go into the final five games that will define their campaign he is confident that he has something to offer.

“It has been good to slowly but surely get back in and get some game time and I just want more of that now,” he said. “I feel ready [to start]. I think I have been ready for a few weeks now but the team have been doing so well I have had to bide my time. I just need to take my chance when it comes.  

“I wouldn’t say I was ever concerned [about getting back in.] I believe in my own ability and the way I played and how involved I was at the start of the season was great. Things happen and now it is just about pushing to get back into the starting XI now and doing the best I can when I am in there.”

Celtic needed a 97th minute winner the last time they were in Dingwall. Turnbull has no preference about how points come about this afternoon but cares only that three points are banked whichever way that may play out.  

“I don’t care how we get the job done on Sunday – it is just all about getting the three points,” he said. “It is all that matters. We want to play our style of football but most importantly it is about getting points on the board and kicking on going into the last run of games.”