Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S NO GLENN DODDLE
Two-goal Murray knows Hughton’s trust in him will count for nothing if he stops delivering
GLENN MURRAY insists he will get no favours from Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton despite a strong bond of trust and respect.
The 37-year-old delivered two goals against rock-bottom Wycombe on a first start since a deadline day move from Brighton – where the pair teamed up to great effect.
The brace from the veteran striker and a third from another former Seagull, Anthony Knockaert, continued Forest’s fine recent run.
But Murray knows with Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor fighting for a place, he cannot afford any drop in performance levels.
“I have to come in and prove myself,” said Murray. “Just because I played for the manager before and did well, that doesn’t mean anything.
“You’re judged on performances from now, so I must train properly and score when I get given the chance to.
“Chris Hughton has got the best out of me, we have been successful before. There is belief and trust there - his belief I will score goals doesn’t waiver and there is trust in me as a professional over my body and fitness.
“He was a huge factor in me coming here, Chris is one of the only managers I would have moved for. My body feels good. It’s well known I’ve never had much pace so that’s OK as I have none to lose.
“Deep down, the thing that keeps me going is I think I still can score at this level. When I start questioning that, it’s time to stop. But I proved in this game there’s life there yet.
“I know from talking to friends and retired footballers that you are a long time sat on the sofa.”
Murray expertly lobbed Ryan Allsop early on and won and scored a penalty shortly after the interval for the 207th goal of his career. Knockaert crashed in a third to seal the points.
Hughton (below) said: “Glenn always thinks about the team first.
“A No.9 wants to get off the mark quickly. I didn’t have to persuade him to come. He wanted to play games and wasn’t doing that on loan at Watford. He’ll play as long as he can.”
The situation already looks desperate for Wycombe, with one win in the last 16 league matches.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth said: “We have the lowest budget by an absolute mile in this league. We are planning long-term, we are planning for two, or three years’
time, not just for this season.
“That’s brilliant from our owners but we still have to give it a go.
“We’ve a fantastic opportunity here to play in the Championship and get points and I believe we can do that.”