Jamie’s body has caught up with his head
Jamie Murphy was never going to leave Rangers without a fight.
But the winger wondered if he would ever play first-team football for the Ibrox club again.
Murphy has been fighting to rescue his career since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a game at Kilmarnock in August, 2018.
He returned to full training last season, but manager Steven Gerrard raised doubts about his future with Rangers at the start of this campaign.
The Light Blues manager suggested a loan spell could be needed to see if recapturing his old form was possible.
Murphy decided that was not his preferred option, and was delighted when he appeared as a substitute against Hamilton Accies before the international break.
He said: “I spoke to the manager, and we agreed it was better I stayed and fought for my place.
“It crossed my mind about going on loan for a second or two. But I have worked so hard to get here, I don’t want to give it up to go somewhere else.
“The manager was probably right to leave me out of the team in my first few months back.
“In my head I thought I was the same, but I wasn’t.
“I feel like I am now at the levels I was before, but I wasn’t earlier this season.
“My head said: ‘Everything is OK, I can do everything I used to’. But when I trained, I wasn’t as sharp as I should have been.
“This is the hardest I have ever worked to get back from an injury.”
With wingers Jordan Jones and Ryan Kent still sidelined, Murphy will be with the Rangers squad that goes to play Hearts at Tynecastle today.
He is clearly delighted to be back in action, but is most pleased for his family.
They were there to see him back on the Ibrox pitch a fortnight ago.
“I brought the family and a few friends to the game. It was a moment for them as much as me,” said Murphy.
“We have been in it together and they have been my therapists for the last year.
“My little boy hadn’t really seen me playing for Rangers as he is only two, so that was nice for him.”
The former Scotland man sustained the injury on the artificial surface at Rugby Park, but maintains he has no fear of plastic pitches.
He said: “I wouldn’t have any concerns about playing again on astroturf pitches.
“I would leave it up to the physios to decide whether it is right for me to do so.
“Young Boys had an astro pitch in Bern, but it was the same as you find here.
“I don’t think they get any better wherever you go.”