ADVERTISER columnist Zoe Messenbird writes in praise of Crystal Palace's returning goalscoring hero...
THE reception that Glenn Murray received when he made his return against West Bromwich Albion was quite amazing. I have never in the 16 years that I have been going to Selhurst Park heard the announcement of a substitution receive such applause. Without Murray last season, I doubt we would have made it to Wembley. The goals he scored for us played a huge part in our promotion, and I can't wait to see him in the Premier League. I would love Murray to come back the same player he was before the injury but I just wonder how much of a step up the Premier League will be for a player who has yet to play in this league, and who has just recovered from a serious knee injury. It takes time to settle into a league which is completely different from the Championship; look at how long it took some of our players this season to find their feet in this league. I think it might be too unrealistic to expect Murray to start off where he left off last season. It's really important for us fans to give him time to find his feet in the Premier League. This may mean Tony Pulis may not start him every game, and instead use him as a sub to slowly introduce Murray to a completely different style of football. Although I think it may take time for Murray to settle back into the squad, and start scoring goals again, I am very excited about seeing his partnership with Marouane Chamakh. And if Puncheon and Ince can provide Murray with the service, then we could see him smash in goals for fun like he did last season. The return of Murray is only a positive for us; after all it will mean that players like Dwight Gayle and Cameron Jerome will now need to fight for their places in the starting line-up. I think, along with our new signings, Murray will soon make his mark in the Premier League.
THE reception that Glenn Murray received when he made his return against West Bromwich Albion was quite amazing. I have never in the 16 years that I have been going to Selhurst Park heard the announcement of a substitution receive such applause. Without Murray last season, I doubt we would have made it to Wembley. The goals he scored for us played a huge part in our promotion, and I can't wait to see him in the Premier League. I would love Murray to come back the same player he was before the injury but I just wonder how much of a step up the Premier League will be for a player who has yet to play in this league, and who has just recovered from a serious knee injury. It takes time to settle into a league which is completely different from the Championship; look at how long it took some of our players this season to find their feet in this league. I think it might be too unrealistic to expect Murray to start off where he left off last season. It's really important for us fans to give him time to find his feet in the Premier League. This may mean Tony Pulis may not start him every game, and instead use him as a sub to slowly introduce Murray to a completely different style of football. Although I think it may take time for Murray to settle back into the squad, and start scoring goals again, I am very excited about seeing his partnership with Marouane Chamakh. And if Puncheon and Ince can provide Murray with the service, then we could see him smash in goals for fun like he did last season. The return of Murray is only a positive for us; after all it will mean that players like Dwight Gayle and Cameron Jerome will now need to fight for their places in the starting line-up. I think, along with our new signings, Murray will soon make his mark in the Premier League.
