Brighton boss Graham Potter opens door to early return for veteran striker Glenn Murray following bleak Watford spell that has seen him start just one league game this season
- Brighton have told Glenn Murray that he is always welcome back at the Amex
- Murray is on loan at Watford but has been left on the bench at Vicarage Road
- Brighton boss Graham Potter says Murray is a fantastic ‘servant’ to the club
- Without Murray, Brighton have only scored 15 times in the Premier League
Brighton, who are struggling for goals in the Premier League this season as they prepare to face Sheffield United, have told veteran striker Glenn Murray, currently on loan at Watford, that he is always welcome back at the Amex.
Murray, 37, has been left on the bench at Vicarage Road since signing a one-year loan deal with the Championship club, starting only one league game so far under manager Vladimir Ivic.
That has led to reports he could make a swift return to the south coast and, although the player has not complained about his situation, the door remains open for an Albion reunion should he need it.
Brighton have told Glenn Murray (above) that he is always welcome back at the Amex
Brighton manager Graham Potter said: ‘My respect for Glenn is huge, he’s a top guy and a fantastic servant for this club. It goes without saying that he’s always welcome here, especially while I’m here because he was good to me and supported what we did.
‘I can imagine he is frustrated. It’s part of the challenge of going out on loan. But all I know is that Glenn is a top guy, and he’s been fantastic for this club and great for me.’
Without Murray, Brighton have managed to score only 15 times in the Premier League this campaign, with Neal Maupay currently their top scorer on fou, and are building a reputation as a team which dominates matches, plays well but fails to take their chances.
Potter hopes former Liverpool winger Adam Lallana can help put that right, having seen a goal against Fulham disallowed last week during a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage.
Brighton manager Graham Potter (above) says Murray is a fantastic ‘servant’ to the club
Since Murray joined Watford on loan, Brighton have only scored 15 times in the Premier League
Had it stood, that goal would have been Lallana’s first since scoring an 85th minute equaliser for Liverpool at Old Trafford in October 2019, and only his second in three seasons having failed to hit the target in 2018-19 or 2017-18.
However, Potter, whose Brighton team are searching for their first home win of the season in a bid to avoid sliding towards the relegation zone, has confidence the 32-year-old will come good.
He said: ‘I think the last couple of years at Liverpool he didn’t play so much and that that probably affects his goal record.
‘But Adam has the quality to finish and he’s got the quality to score. That’s what we need from other areas of pitch, too. It’s not just one area, it’s all of us as a team. We have to find a collective solution.’