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Next: Home Against Curzon Ashton On Saturday November 1st At 3.00pm

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The most nerve-wracking game of my career - Murray

Matt Murray has admitted that getting through last Saturday's game for Hereford United was the most nerve-wracking game of his career.

"The mental battle is huge and that’s why Saturday’s game for Hereford was so big – that was harder than making my debut because it was the third time I’ve come back from a long lay-off," Murray told the Express and Star.

"You think ‘will my knee hold out? How will I do? And, if I don’t do it at Hereford in League One, then what’s going to happen?’

"It was about getting through the game – everything else was a bonus because it’s been so long since I’ve played.

"I still feel I’ve got a lot to prove. That’s why Saturday was a big psychological thing for me and I need to push on.

"It’s all about getting rid of the fears. I spoke to my psychologist last Friday because I do have those fears. Things come into your mind and you need the words to keep them out and stay positive.

"I was in a happy place last Saturday but that’s the thing about football – you can be high one moment and low the next and I’ve got to try to stay level-headed."

Murray would love to play regularily for Wolves but appreciates he has to take one step at a time.

"My first target is to play one game for Wolves."

Meanwhile Murray has also been quoted by the Birmingham Mail. In their article the goalkeeper thanks Graham Turner for taking a risk with him.

"It was just nice to hear that dressing room banter again after training all week.

"It’s just great having that buzz on a Saturday and playing for points in a game that has something riding on it.

"To come through unscathed after 90 minutes was the most important thing, everything else was a bonus.

"There were a few bits of my game that weren’t as good as I’d like it to be but I took a few crosses and I felt I had an impact on the game.

"I just wanted to go out and play first-team football again.

"It’s Hereford who have taken a risk, because I haven’t played any football for 18 months. The last game I played was Leicester City away.

"I’m grateful for Hereford taking a chance with me. They’ve shown faith in me and I want to repay them for that.

"Everyone was really friendly. Obviously I read all that stuff in the press about Darren Randolph, who was also on loan to Hereford, walking out on them, but that was up to him.

"You keep wondering, how will my knee hold up and if I don’t do well for Hereford in League One, what would the future hold for me at 27?

"But the knee was fine and now it’s just about getting sharp again."