Celtic star Dane Murray is putting his injury nightmare in the rear-view mirror as he looks to kick on after getting a recent run of starts.
The centre-back has had to be patient due to being the fourth-choice centre-back when Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales are all fit. But such is the nature of being a relatively young at a competitive club like Celtic.
Of late, Murray has come into the starting lineup due to Carter-Vickers dealing with a muscle strain, which he has now recovered from, while Trusty has been given some time off due to the death of his father.
Other than falling asleep for a quick free-kick like the rest of his teammates for the Hibs opener over the weekend, Murray has been plenty solid at the back, and there are clear signs that he is trending in the right direction, especially when you factor in that he has spent around two years on the sidelines through injury at a pivotal stage in his development as a young player.
“It’s almost like not trying to forget about the two years that I missed, but I think a lot of players go through it,” he told Celtic Player. “It’s just about staying focused and thinking about what you can do next.”
Murray also spoke about how senior players like Carter-Vickers, Scales and Trusty have helped him in his development. “I’ve taken a lot from them and I speak to them regularly,” he added “You’re learning from three international players who have been at this club for a long time and played a lot of games, so I just try and pick their brains.
“I think it’s just everyday habits, making sure you’re training well, and then that leads into performing well, hopefully, when it comes to the games.”
Murray may have to be patient
It has been a real positive to see Murray back in action, not only because of his troubled injury history but because he is one of few young talents in this team, with the Bhoys seemingly struggling to produce first-team regulars.
Murray is one of those who has managed to make the jump, along with Colby Donovan and Callum Osmand, The more we see of them the better, as long as they can keep up with the demands of first-team football, and all three are showing they are ready to do just that,
But the reality is that there are some better options currently, and it's likely Murray will remain the fourth choice unless something changes with the three ahead of him or he takes a leap.
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