I’D NEVER DITCH HIBS FOR TURKS
Murray so happy playing for Lenny and celebrates staying with a friendly goal
SIMON MURRAY could have gone from Tayport to Turkey when Hibs received a six-figure bid for their striker this week.
But the hitman insists he couldn’t be happier that Neil Lennon knocked back that offer from Elazigspor because he is 100 per cent focused on being a success at Easter Road.
Murray grabbed Hibs’ only goal in yesterday’s friendly defeat by Dutch topflight side Willem II, as the curtain came down on a week-long sunshine training camp in Portugal.
Boss Lennon wasn’t too disappointed by the loss, as Hibs had been the better side until a raft of changes midway through the second half shifted the momentum of the game.
Murray was one of those to make way in the reshuffle and until his 66th-minute departure the 25-year-old showed more than enough to state a strong case to start next weekend’s Scottish Cup clash with arch-rivals Hearts.
Murray said: “From Tayport to Turkey – that would be some journey but I’m happy to be a Hibs player. I’m happy to be here. Why would I not be?
“The gaffer pulled me into his office the other day and told me there had been an offer put in for me from a club in Turkey. It was a bit random but I’m fully committed to Hibs. I don’t want to leave this club. It’s not really something I have been thinking about.
“It was good to get a goal today. The gaffer wasn’t happy with the result. Nobody was because you never like losing but the performance was good, especially in the first half. It was good run-out for us.
“We’ve been working hard all week doing double sessions. The boys were maybe a little bit leggy today but we need to put in this hard work because as everyone knows we have a really tough game coming up.”
Murray had put the Easter Road side ahead early in the second half but a double from Mo El Hankouri turned the tide in favour of the team from Tilburg.
Lennon had said earlier in the week his starting line-up for this game would be geared towards his team selection for next Sunday’s Scottish Cup derby showdown with Hearts.
So it was a promising sign for keeper Ofir Marciano that he was given the nod ahead of new recruit Scott Bain.
There was no place either for fellow new boy Jamie Maclaren, with the Aussie not stripped as a precaution after taking a knock in training on Thursday.
Before long there was more worry on the injury front as skipper Gray dropped to the turf with no one around him, clutching his ankle in distress.
Helped off the pitch to be replaced by Ryan Porteous, this was a real blow for the full-back who is only just back in action after taking a month out to recover from a troublesome knee injury.
In a high-tempo workout Hibs had the best chances of the half, with Murray giving the Dutch defence problems with his running in behind their ranks.
After seeing a goal chopped off because his strike partner Oli Shaw had drifted just offside, Murray did get the goal he deserved in the 48th minute. Dylan McGeouch’s terrific searching diagonal ball was volleyed square by John McGinn and Murray was well placed in the heart of the box to turn it home.
Willem II drew level after 66 minutes when El Hankouri clipped home a clinical finish and a good save by Marciano soon after kept Hibs level.
But Hankouri did fire Willem II ahead again on 73 minutes and Ismael Azzaoui extended their lead five minutes later.
Shaw hit the post late on but there was no way back for Hibs and afterwards Lennon wasn’t too downhearted. The Hibs boss said: “I’m really pleased. For the first hour we were by far the better team until we made the substitutions.
“I needed to make the changes to give the boys a bit of a run-out. I was delighted with what I saw.
“A couple of the boys didn’t feature – Brandon Barker is unwell and a couple are doing their own thing.
“Efe Ambrose didn’t come here with us this week because of visa problems. He’s the least of my worries when it comes to fitness – he could miss six months and come back to training. He’s been training at East Mains and will rejoin the squad on Monday so it’s not a big issue.”
HIBS – Marciano, Gray (Porteous 10), McGregor (Stirling 66), Hanlon (Fontaine 70), Stevenson, Slivka, Bartley, McGeouch (F Murray 62), McGinn, Shaw, S Murray (Matulevicius 66). Subs: Bain, Debrowski, Fontaine.