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Town Watch Scottish Striker Sunday, 24th Jul 2011 10:50
Town were amongst a number of English clubs watching Motherwell beat Terry Butcher’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-0 at Fir Park yesterday with 21-year-old striker Jamie Murphy believed to be the reason for their trip north of the border. Spurs, Stoke, Wolves, West Brom, Birmingham, Brighton and Watford were also represented as the SPL season got under way.
Glasgow-born Murphy, who netted the second Motherwell goal yesterday, was a schoolboy with Clyde before moving on to his current club, where he broke into the first team in 2007.
The 5ft 10in tall frontman has now made 80 starts and appeared 57 times from the bench, scoring 23 goals, 11 of them last season. Contracted to his current club until 2013, Murphy has won Scotland caps at U19 and U21 levels.
Motherwell boss Stuart McCall says it’s not a shock to him that English clubs sent scouts to watch his side in action: "It's no surprise because there's no games on.
"People say the downside of coming back too early is that you can't get boys on loan from English clubs. The downside for me is that teams have five or six games to watch our players.
"It was a good game to come and watch. We've got not only Jamie, three or four others too. You're talking Jamie Murphy, Chris Humphrey, big Hutchie [Shaun Hutchinson], whoever we are talking about, they would benefit from another year.
"I find it sometimes sad, it doesn't always happen, but some players leave the SPL to go down to England and sit on the bench. The boys are developing and it's a good place to play football.
"Obviously if a big bid comes along the club would have to look at it but speaking myself, I don't want to encourage anything.
"I think another year under their belts they will be better and the club will get more money for them."
Team-mate Stevie Hammell, who was also amongst yesterday’s scorers added: "It's inevitable he'll move on at some point. When I see some of the boys who get moves, Murph's in a different league from them. He's a terrific player.
"And he seems to take his game up another level every season. He won't let the scouts being there bother him and I would say that the grass isn't necessarily always greener when you go south at a young age. I left it until 24 before I went but whatever happens he has a very bright future."
Photo: Action Images
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I'm a little bit worried that this could mean that Jewell & co aren't as sure about the possible JET signing going through and are covering their backs.
I agree with most posters though, especially the guy who said that we should concentrate on defence and midfield during this window. Maybe (try to) sell Scotland in January and keep Murphy on the back-burner until then.
I played golf with pj last week and he said the hardest bit about getting the players he wanted was keeping the news from the press, which alerts other clubs to the players availability. This story is probably a pj smoke screen for a different player he wants. Pj a genius.
all any one does on here is knock the players p j is so called sigining they did the same when keane was in charge. i myself will see at end of season and make judgement then
On another thought, was checking out Terry Butchers fitness level, and was thinking of pairing him with Russel Osman in the center of the defence again...just saying.............
TRUEBLUE1974 :- Agree ! Its a kind of game to some of these top-hats. Do they not realise that players read these sights, where better to learn about a club's fans than a sight like this. If you were a player and read some of these comments about you, would you sign, I know I wouldn't. Try putting out a welcome message for a change, it isn't hard. P.S. He's a good little player !
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