Murray Thankful For Biggest Premier League Chance

Brighton & Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray highlighted the faith Chris Hughton has shown in him since stepping up to the Premier League, and believes he’s finally been given the opportunity to fully showcase his capabilities at the top level.

The 34-year-old has scored 11 goals in 27 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls so far this season, and he showed his gratitude towards Hughton for showing confidence in his ability to find the back of the net.

He said, “This is the biggest chance I’ve been given at this level. I had half a season at Crystal Palace which went well and then took a move to Bournemouth, which didn't go so well on a personal level.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to play a good amount of games in the Premier League at Brighton, and I’ve always believed that if I’ve got good players supplying me, I can score goals at this level.

“That’s just part and parcel of people’s opinions [doubters] - there will also be people out there that maybe haven’t been so vocal, that did believe in me.

"People have questioned whether I can step up at every level I’ve played at - and I like to think that I’ve proved a lot of people wrong.”

Murray has been linked with an England call-up in recent weeks, following five goals in as many Premier League matches, and the forward admitted how much it would mean if Gareth Southgate selected him.

“It’s nice to see the press printing things and hear people speaking about it, but all I’ve got to do is concentrate on keeping Brighton in the Premier League and scoring as many goals as possible.

“It would mean the world - that’s what you aspire to do, play for your country. If that was to happen, it would probably be the proudest moment of my career.

“But just to be mentioned in the same breath as the England team means I’m doing something right.”

Albion travel to Goodison Park to play Everton on Saturday afternoon, and with just nine league matches remaining, Murray insisted his team-mates won’t get comfortable until the season is over.

“Every team works on the 40-point mark. I know it was less last season, but we’ll work towards that and the further above that we can get, the better.

“If we do hit 40, it won’t be a case of feet up for the summer. We’ll be striving to get as many points as we can.

“It’s another big game this weekend against Everton, and then we go into games against Leicester and Huddersfield at home, and we’ve got to make headway in those games because we’ve got a really tough finish.

“But we’re in a good vein of form at the minute, and if we’re able to keep that up, it will be great for us.”