Often Partisan

Murphy Injury Blow

Blues have been rocked by a second long-term injury this week with confirmation that David Murphy will be on the sidelines until Christmas due to his problematic knee. He joins Matt Green in the treatment room who will miss the remainder of the campaign after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in training three days ago.

One has got to feel some sympathy for Murphy. The Hartlepool-born left back has struggled with various knee injuries since signing for Blues for £1.5million in January 2008. Despite being comfortably Blues’ longest serving outfield player, he has only made 106 league appearances in nearly six years at the club and with his contract ending this season one wonders how many more appearances he will manage to add to that figure.

It’s a shame for Murph as when he’s had a good run in the side he has been more than useful. This was evidenced in 2011/12 under Chris Hughton when he made forty-seven appearances and scored seven times in a team that almost got through the Europa League group stages. At the time I thought he was probably one of the best left-backs outside the Premier League and I think we missed him a lot last season whilst he was injured. What it does mean is that Mitch Hancox will now definitely have to step up to the plate to cover the position – something he did in the last game against Huddersfield away.

One has also got to feel for Matt Green, who having made the step up from playing in the Conference last season has only made seven Championship starts before this injury blow. Whilst its not going to hit Blues as hard as he is currently fourth choice striker, with Akwasi Asante out for a while too Blues are realistically only one bad injury away from having to look to Reece Hales as cover for the forward positions at this moment in time.

The strength of the squad is now starting to be sapped as injuries take hold and with a busy festive programme to come it’s going to be a tough time for Lee Clark – but this is when Blues really must come through and put points on the board. Although the team has a lot of inexperienced players in it it’s not as bad as the game last year when Clark had seven teenagers in his 18 man squad; for all of the talk of youth Blues do have more players in their twenties this year than they did at this point last season – and there are opportunities for some of these players to really put the marker down for their careers.

For example, of late Tom Adeyemi and Callum Reilly have looked more than decent in midfield and first team football has allowed both to blossom into Championship-quality players. If more of the younger and fringe players can follow this path then two things will happen – firstly, Blues will continue to remain outside of the relegation zone but also more importantly it adds value to the team and the club, ensuring that it remains an attractive proposition to a buyer.

For David Murphy, it’s frustration on the sidelines again and hope that his knee settles down. As much as I like seeing our youngsters come through I hope he can come back into the team because Blues will be better for it.

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20 Responses to “Murphy Injury Blow”

  • Gary says:

    Murphy is a great player but he’s injury prone just like Spector I think they are both made of glass and it’s what blues could do without with the situation they are in.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    When you think that we have Eardley, Murphy and Spector out, Packwood and Higgins and Bell out on loan, we’re going to be down to the bare bones pretty soon.

    Get well soon to all our walking wounded.

  • TonyE says:

    We certainly suffer more than our share of long term injuries, last season both Carr and Murphy hardly kicked a ball in anger and now we’ve already been hit with the long term losses of Eardey, Murphy (again), Green and young Assante never seems to be fit.

  • edd77 says:

    is Murphy out of contract at the end of the season?

  • Gary says:

    I think it’s because our defence is under pressure for most of the game we need to start dominating games instead of letting the opposition do it all the time.

  • Blueact Steve says:

    Murph is an excellent championship player but he is just to injury prone now. Sorry to say that I would release him when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

  • Quokkasskip says:

    Murphy is finished. You could see him carrying his leg in his last game.

    Shame, he was amazing in Europe and under CH

  • Sh*t on the villa says:

    With Lingard also on his way out im hoping Mitch and Fergie are ready to claim the left… Its the partnership we have needed all season!

    Shame about Murph, can see this being his last season in football.

    KRO

  • Chris W says:

    Sorry for Murph, he seemed to be enjoying his football again and certainly gave us something extra along with Jesse down the left.
    Mitch is a good fullback who can only benefit with games as Murph’s replacement, just hope he can overcome the dreaded curse that we have with fullbacks.
    Matt Green, though not a great loss is still demoralising for the player as I think he could have had a chance with the heavier pitches and hard festive games, he certainly didn’t let the team down and worked hard without scoring many goals, but then all the forwards have struggled with consistency in scoring.
    Good luck to both Matt and Murph, it is going to be a long winter…
    KRO+DNM

  • DoctorD says:

    Neil Eardley will be furious to be missing a rematch with his former team next week.

    Perhaps Murphy’s injury can galvanize the rest of the squad and help them to pull together.

  • BigmanSteveo says:

    I I know Money is tight @the blues but I’m sure I seen Murphy @ the nhs walk in clinic on new street!
    Tekkin the pee they are lol

  • andy says:

    As excited and hopeful that players like Adeyemi and Reilly prosper I am also sceptical and realistic that they will become targets for other clubs and as things stand, Birmingham will sell for peanuts!

  • mark says:

    More than lightly Clark will dip into the pool of upcoming young players we have, and why not…….I
    said this before this is the best opportunity for them to play and experience this division……..Likes of higgins, hales, Hancox to be given the opportunity to stake their claim in the 1st team…………..With murp i can only see pay as earn contract coming his way………………….

  • bcfc1975 says:

    I think what mark stating when Murphy contract is up in the summer, he might given a paye contract,

  • ...sappy sad says:

    ………..My only worry is a goalscorer we have already proved we can score goals but to score goals without weakening the defence you need a consistant scorer up front..dudka will help defensively in midfield …if lingard leaves I feel L.C will go for a forward if allowed ….I feel a good run coming on k.r.o


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