The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Striker thankful for advice from Ciftci
Murray hoping to put Turk’s tips to good use on tour
Dundee United striker Simon Murray has thanked Nadir Ciftci for helping him settle in at Tannadice.
With Ciftci now at Celtic, Murray is one of the group of United frontmen who have been challenged by manager Jackie McNamara to help ease the pain of the Turk’s departure to Parkhead.
The man the Tangerines signed from Arbroath last January, only to be loaned back to the Lichties for the remainder of the season, is now ready to show McNamara that he can step up to Premiership level.
Murray should have an opportunity to impress his boss tonight when United take on AZ Alkmaar in the second match of their pre-season tour of the Netherlands.
And he will carry advice given to him by Ciftci on to the park.
“I think I can offer United something different up front,” said Murray.
“The strikers we have are good at holding the ball up and bringing others into the play, whereas I am more of a player who likes to get in behind players and cause problems in the box.
“It is good for me if I can bring something else to the team.
“The main thing is, of course, that you need to get goals as a striker but I feel I can do that.
“What has helped me a lot is getting some advice from Nadir. I had only known him since January but he was always friendly and keen to chat to me.
“He gave me a lot of tips about how to improve as a striker and that was great because he is a top player.
“I think once he settles at Celtic he will just get better and better.
“A lot of people say that he might struggle to do well in Europe, for example, but I don’t think that will be the case.
“He has the ability and is still young, even though he doesn’t look it!
“Nadir will adapt and he has as much ability as Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong and look how well they have settled in at Celtic. I am sure he will do great for them and I wish him all the best.”
While United are looking to use at least some of the £1.5 million they received from the Hoops for Ciftci – they have been linked with Stevie May and Billy McKay so far – the likes of Murray will be given a chance at first-team level if McNamara likes what he sees on this Dutch trip.
Murray is certainly relishing being away with his team-mates even if they are coming up against some tough opposition.
They were hammered 4-0 by Vitesse Arnhem on Friday night and the word is that AZ are every bit as good as, if not better, than them.
“It is great for me to be on the trip and we have picked some quality sides to play against,” added Murray.
“I am always learning and this whole thing is an experience that I can really benefit from.
“Getting away with the lads and hopefully getting some decent game time can only improve me as a player.
“There are top-class players in the opposition and I don’t know if we are going to come up against any better this season if I’m being honest.
“Still, I feel as if I have been doing well in training and am really looking forward to kicking my career on.”