Rangers loanee Jamie Murphy has been given a big billing by his Burton Albion and former Sheffield United teammate John Brayford, as quoted by Derbyshire Live.
The 30-year-old winger joined the EFL League One outfit on loan last Monday and made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley over the weekend.
Defender, Brayford, scored the hosts’ only goal, but he has been quick to praise Murphy in the wake of the game, a player he knows well from their time together at Bramall Lane.
“He’s probably one of the best players I’ve played with,” he said, as quoted by Derbyshire Live. “At Sheffield United, with him down the wing, he was one of the main reasons we had a lot of success in the cups.”
“I know he’s been out with a bad injury but he showed glimpses [against Accrington]. He’s a real threat and a pleasure to play with as well. He played anywhere across the front three, on the left-wing or the right-wing.
“He’s technically a good player but you also know you’re going to get a shift out of him, which is sometimes rare for wingers. You know what you’re going to get. I think fans will see what he’s about when he’s got a few games behind him.”
Verdict
It was great to see Murphy getting a long-awaited start on Saturday afternoon, and it seems he showed flashes of what he’s capable of on debut.
With a year and a half still remaining on his Ibrox contract, it’s possible that a successful stint in the EFL could set him up for a return to the Rangers fold next season, and at this stage, Burton looks like an excellent choice of club.
They may not be a football league powerhouse, but the third-tier is a good level, and with familiar faces such as Nigel Clough and Brayford, settling in should be relatively straightforward.
It’s all about getting minutes in the legs for the Scotland international and the games are set to come thick and fast over the next while.
The Brewers are in action again tonight, as they travel to AFC Wimbledon for a 1945 kick-off.
