Murphy can star for Rangers and Scotland, says Rosenior
BRIGHTON ace Liam Rosenior has backed Jamie Murphy to become a Rangers hero and Scotland regular should his dream move back to Glasgow come true.
Rosenior, Murphy’s room-mate for over two years with the south-coast club, revealed that Brighton players and staff were amazed when he was continually omitted from national squads.
The 28-year-old earned a belated call-up from Gordon Strachan for a provisional squad last year, only to fail to make the final cut ahead of the England game at Hampden.
Now the ex-Motherwell winger is desperate for a deal to be struck to let him sign for his boyhood club this week.
‘We were all surprised Murph never really got a Scotland squad call-up,’ said Rosenior. ‘The performances he put in when we were at the top of the Championship more than deserved a chance.
‘He scored goals and was great at assists. He’s everything you want in a modern winger. At Rangers, if he performs the way I know, then he will be a huge fans’ favourite there and go on to get his Scotland caps.’
‘Jamie is strong, quick, brave and a fantastic athlete and competitor. If he performs the way he can then he will be a fans’ favourite and go on to get his Scotland caps’ — LIAM ROSENIOR
LIAM ROSENIOR watched a wiry League One winger from Scotland walk on to the Wembley turf for a warm-up and, having sized up his direct opponent for an FA Cup semi-final, concluded that he might not be in for the most searching of afternoons.
It only took a few harmful minutes for the Premier League defender and the ambitions of Hull City to make Rosenior realise that an earlier warning from one of his own team-mates about Jamie Murphy had been spot on.
‘My first experience of playing against him was Hull against Sheffield United at Wembley in 2014,’ recalled Rosenior. ‘I watched him run out and Sone Aluko, who knew him from Scotland, said: “Watch out for him, he’s a really good player”. As I saw this skinny lad run out, I thought: “He won’t be a problem for me”. But the first time he got the ball he beat me for pace all ends up and United scored.’
Rosenior is happy to tell the story about his failings not for the reason that Hull progressed after a 5-3 extra-time thriller but because Murphy the rival went on to become one of his best pals in football.
And he will be watching with great anticipation to see how those skills fare once Murphy has swapped the blue of Brighton, where the pair were room-mates for over two years, to the jersey of the winger’s dreams at Rangers.
‘You would sometimes look at him because of his appearance and get the wrong impression,’ said Rosenior. ‘That goes against him. But he’s strong, quick, brave and a fantastic athlete and competitor. Experience has also taught him how to use his body in a football way, too.
‘To put yourself in a position where you won’t get kicked up and down. Murph takes up those positions really well, ones that give him a head start in one v ones. His starting position is so good, he covers the ball so well. That’s one of the main things he focused on at Brighton.
‘For the way we liked to play, you need technically good players who can see a pass. But also guys who’d track runners and work hard. He’s got all that. He’s everything you want in a modern winger. He can play at the highest level. At Rangers, as a massive club, if he performs the way I know then he will be a fans’ favourite and go on to get his Scotland caps.’
Rangers are hoping to seal a £1.7million transfer to bring Murphy back to Scotland within the next couple of days.
That would see Brighton recoup the fee they laid out to Sheffield United in August 2015. Since Murphy was a vital part of last season’s promotion campaign under Chris Hughton, it’s fair to say they have had their money’s worth from the 28-year-old.
His buddy down the left flank for the bulk of that period, Rosenior acknowledges Rangers have recruited a fantastic talent. ‘He’s been nothing short of outstanding for us,’ said the 33-year-old. ‘He was a huge part of our promotion.
‘There are assists, goals that you’d expect but he also does the unseen work so well.
‘He works tremendously hard for whatever full-back he’s playing with. I was always delighted when it was him in front of me. All the clever runs without the ball. I played left-back lots of times and he’d always get a minimum seven out of ten every week. That’s a manager’s dream.
‘He’s going to be a great teammate in that Rangers dressing room. I’m going to miss him and will be following him to see how he gets on. I’ve already told him to promise me I will get there for a Celtic game as I haven’t experienced that.’
While Rosenior fancies picking up an Old Firm ticket from Murphy, for the prospective Ibrox signing himself the chance to pit his skills against Celtic represents a boyhood fantasy come true.
The 28-year-old is a Rangers fan eager to return to the west of Scotland to lay down family roots. ‘I roomed with him for two years and his biggest dream was to play for Rangers,’ said Rosenior. ‘He said if he had to leave Brighton for one club it would be for Rangers. His other dream was to play for Scotland. He’s such a patriotic lad.
‘When the Old Firm games were on, we had a few Celtic lads like Beram Kayal and Shane Duffy is a Celtic fan. There was rivalry going on when we had it on at the training ground! The games would kick off at noon, so we’d watch them.
‘It’s an amazing football culture there. I don’t have any allegiance but it would be great to see Rangers start to challenge Celtic as that
rivalry is key for Scottish football. When I see Rangers sign players like Jamie Murphy I hope that will improve them on a more consistent basis and make for a far better league.
‘For where he’s come from, to realise that dream you had as a little boy, is amazing. He’s a great family man and I know he’ll be happy at settling back in Scotland with his young family. That helps.
‘Not enough gets said how life off the pitch can affect a player on it. It takes time for any player and his family to settle when they move.
‘So with him being comfortable back home, Rangers can expect him to hit the ground running.
‘I can’t think of a better signing for Rangers.’
With Ibrox boss Graeme Murty looking for classy people as well as talented players, Rangers have clearly done their homework according to Rosenior. Brighton’s first season in the Premier League hasn’t worked out for Murphy, with only five first-team appearances.
However, the Scot was the consummate pro throughout the disappointing final weeks and months of his stay at the AMEX. He and Rosenior teamed up for the last time in November at Stevenage in a Checkatrade Trophy tie with the club’s Under-23 squad.
‘He had the same motivation and temperament, just what every manager wants,’ said Rosenior. ‘As a person, he’s a fantastic team-mate to have. A great pro and a real family man. Everything you’d want from a professional footballer.
‘We chose our room-mates at Brighton. I got on really well with him. I’m a family man too.
‘We’ve a lot in common even though I’m very much a southerner and he’s from Glasgow. He’s very honest, very professional. He works at his game, constantly out practicing his crosses and finishing.
‘He can come across as quiet but he’s not at all laid back.
‘He’s a very calm individual with a great temperament.
‘That can be mistaken for not having passion. But he’s got that edge, drive and determination that you need to get back to any level of football. And he’s got to where he wants to be with Rangers.’