Manager’s call a boost for Murphy

JAMIE MURPHY admits he simply can’t wait for the Steven Gerrard era to get under way at Rangers. Currently in Peru with Scotland, the Ibrox midfielder’s long season will finally end after Alex McLeish’s side face Mexico in the 87,000-seater Azteca Stadium in the early hours of Sunday.

Gerrard, meanwhile, isn’t due to report for duty at Ibrox until Friday but he did take time out to make a good luck call to Murphy before he set off on his international adventure.

The former Brighton loan star has, of course, already penned a permanent three-year deal at Ibrox and admits next season simply can’t come soon enough.

‘I’m excited,’ said the 28-year-old. ‘It’s obviously a fresh start for next season.

‘The season-ticket sales are up and that kind of thing is great because you want the supporters behind you.

‘They have been great, so it’s something to look forward to and I have to use these next two games for Scotland to get that extra bit of fitness. And to play for my country is always an honour.

‘I spoke to the manager (Gerrard) on the phone, just briefly, and he wished me luck over here.

‘I was away on holiday last week before flying out and he was just basically saying good luck.

‘It wasn’t unexpected — but any time a new manager speaks to you on the phone, it’s welcome.’

Despite question marks over Gerrard’s lack of frontline experience at first-team level and the level of funding available to rebuild the squad, Murphy (right) believes the experience and professionalism the Anfield legend brings will improve the players already at the club.

‘I have learned something from every manager I’ve had so far,’ he said. ‘I’ve had ten or 11 managers and it has been good to take something from all of them.

‘The manager will come in with his own thoughts and, obviously, he was a top player himself. You are doing something wrong if you don’t learn from that.’

Signed on loan from Brighton in January, the Scotland winger scored five goals in 19 appearances for the Ibrox club.

The flip side came with 4-0 and 5-0 defeats to Celtic, something no Rangers player can afford to make a habit of.

When the dressing room imploded after the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat, the sanctity of England’s south coast must have seemed the more appealing option. But Murphy still wanted to make the loan permanent.

Asked if there was ever a doubt, he responded: ‘Absolutely not. I was delighted both clubs could agree because I knew I would agree.

‘There was never any nagging doubt in my mind. Never. I want to be there to be part of the club’s quest to get back to the top.

‘I came in and felt I did well, scoring some goals and setting up some goals.

‘It’s up to me now to improve and to help the team improve.’

Murphy would like to become a central player in Gerrard’s Rangers. Literally, as well as figuratively.

‘I haven’t spoken to the manager about that, but I feel I can play more centrally as I did at the end of the season if asked,’ he said. ‘I enjoy playing centrally. I feel that in most positions I can do reasonably well.’

By becoming a central figure at Rangers, he also enhances his hopes of adding more Scotland caps. There were times, playing the best football of his career at Sheffield United, when he feared international recognition would never come. ‘Every time there was a squad, I would look at it and it was always a disappointment when I wasn’t in,’ he revealed. ‘At Sheffield United, I felt I was doing great. I was player of the year and in double figures in goals and assists. ‘And at some point, you do think to yourself: “This isn’t going to work out”. But you have to stay patient.’