The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Striker keen to pay back boss’s faith
Murray faces side who tried to lure him away
The boot could have been on the other foot for striker Simon Murray as Dundee United prepare to face Hibs.
The Edinburgh side tried to buy Murray on transfer deadline day during the final hours of August but United knocked them back twice.
So tomorrow lunchtime at Easter Road he will be decked out in tangerine and black instead of green and white.
The refusal to even consider those offers was a serious show of faith in the former Arbroath man by manager Ray McKinnon and now the player wants to show he was happy to stay by scoring against the Championship title favourites.
If Murray and his mates can get the better of a Hibs team that has taken only one point from their last two league matches then they will be just a couple behind Neil Lennon’s side in the table.
Reflecting on the capital club’s attempts to get him, Murray said: “I didn’t know much about it, other than what I read in the paper.
“The manager did mention it, too, but it never really crossed my mind at the time.
“The gaffer said he wanted to keep me here so I’m happy with that. “It’s good that he has faith in me. “It is also nice to see clubs interested in you.
“I think even before I came to United and was still at Arbroath there was interest from Hibs.
“However, I’m here and delighted to be so. All I want to do is go to Easter Road and score on Sunday.
“Hopefully, I can get a goal and that we can get the victory, which is the most important thing.”
United won ugly against Morton last Saturday but the 2-1 success still gave them a lift and they firmly believe they can beat the promotion favourites.
“Hibs are a big club in this league and the stadium will be packed so the boys are all looking forward to it,” added Murray.
“The gaffer had just gotten the group together and we are still a new team, whereas the majority of the Hibs team have been together for a good number of years.
“I think we will only get stronger as the season goes on.
“The league is so close and it has really only just started.
“I wouldn’t read too much into where each club is at the moment.
“Hibs have dropped points in the last couple of weeks and should we win we would be only two behind them.
“So we have a chance over the next few games to go and put our stamp on things.”
United were put to the sword last season by Hibs in the League Cup last November – it was 3-0 going on seven or eight – but Murray is hoping it will be a different story this time.
“I have played there before with Arbroath and then with United in the cup last season,” he said.
“Hopefully, we will get a better result this time.”
They are hampered by injury again, though, with both Willo Flood and Stewart Murdoch both missing the game.
Murray said: “Being without Willo and Murdo will be a huge blow but we do have experience in the squad and we have enough in our squad to get a good result on Sunday.”