Blades star has eye on goals record

The Scot has struck 10 goals for the Blades already this term, following on from his haul of seven in his maiden season south of the border in 2013-14.

The 25-year-old’s best seasonal haul stands at 13, something he achieved twice at previous club Motherwell in 2011-12 and 2012-13 with the winger reaching double figures in four seasons for the Steelmen.

Emulating or eclipsing that 13-goal tally represents an achievable aim between now and season’s end and would represent something that could further nudge international selectors, with earning his first Scotland cap something that represents a big dream of his.

Murphy said: “Up in Scotland, I always seemed to score double figures and this will be the first time here.

“Hopefully, there’s a few more to come between now and the end of the season.

I have been doing all right.

“Obviously, the last week was a disappointment losing the games.

“But up until then, me and the team were doing very well and we were top of the form table and pushing for the top two. We are hoping last week was a little blip and we can get back on track.”

On his Scotland hopes, he added: “You want to play for your country. Ask any footballer and they will say the same thing.

“I have no right to get picked and it is up to me to work harder and play harder and maybe do the things that get noticed, scoring more goals and that type of thing. It definitely drives me on to try and get that call.”

While Murphy has enjoyed another positive season at Bramall Lane, it’s been a different story for his compatriot Neill Collins.

The former Leeds and Sunderland centre-half has been out of the picture for most of this season, with a recent injury not helping his cause and he has it all to do to salvage something from a tough campaign.

Clough said: “He trained last Friday and has had two to three sessions this week, so that’s four to five sessions with a view to playing in an under-21s game next week.

“I have no objection to putting him in the team if we think he’s worthy of a place and better. We’ve got to be careful; in the last two games he played, we conceded five at Swindon and three at Chesterfield and haven’t let in three since then.

“He’s been injured for three months and been with the younger lads. Being out for three months, it’s a big step up to come back in with 12 games to go when he’s missed so much football.

“We don’t rule anyone out, but there’s players ahead of him, certainly in that position.”