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New Hibs striker Simon Murray admits he is determined to make a bigger impact at Easter Road than his dad did.
Murray made the switch from Dundee United on a two-year deal at the end of last month, 37 years after father Gary joined from Montrose in a £50,000 transfer.
Murray senior, who was also an attacker, forged a successful career at the Leith side before his time at Hibs was brought to a premature end by a serious knee injury.
Simon has heard all the tales of his dad’s three seasons at the Edinburgh club but insists he is keen to make a bigger impression.
Murray said: “The family have always had a soft spot for Hibs even though we’re from Dundee.
“My dad’s got pictures in his kitchen and it’s always a team we’ve looked out for.
“I’m hoping I can do better than what he did when he was here, that’s my goal.
“I think he scored two against Celtic when he was at Hibs. He did score two against Celtic because he never stops going on about it.
“I think he was up against Danny McGrain and he said he had him on toast, those were the words he used.
“When the opportunity came to come to Hibs it was great and I think he was a bit emotional as well.
“When I signed my dad came down with me although he was here a good few years ago – so they never had a training facility like this. I think they were just at a public park.
“He loved it when he came through, it’s a great place to be playing.
“He came down and loved the look of the place, the facilities are just amazing. He knows it can only help me improve.”
Murray senior earned the nickname ‘Charger’ as a bustling centre-forward who never gave defenders peace and Simon, who scored 18 goals for a United side that was defeated in last season’s play-off final to Hamilton, reckons they are alike in their style of play.
He said: “I think I do play in a similar way to the way he played, I think I’m called mini-charger from (former Dundee United manager) Jackie McNamara, cause his dad played with my dad.”
Jason Cummings
Murray checked in at Hibs just weeks before the prolific Jason Cummings sealed his £1 million-plus switch to Nottingham Forest but the 25-year-old has urged the supporters not to expect him to fill such big boots.
Murray added: “He did great when he was here, scoring a good number of goals for the team.
“I don’t know if you should see me as a direct replacement. I’m just here to do my best and score as many as I can.
“It would have been good to play with Jason. We would have worked well together, I think.
‘“But good luck to him at his new team. Now I have to focus on my own targets.”
Plumber
Murray was a late developer after only moving into the professional ranks in 2014 following a spell in junior football with Tayport and Dundee Violet.
The marksman then made a £50,000 switch to United in January 2015 and Murray insists there is no chance of him ever taking his eye off the ball.
Murray, who will make his Premiership debut for Hibs at home to Partick Thistle on August 5, added: “I suppose I’ve done it the hard way coming through the juniors and coming through the lower leagues at Arbroath.
“I got my chance. I still feel as if I’ve got a bit to learn and hopefully I can do that under Neil Lennon here.
“Coming through the way I did, you don’t take it for granted.
“I’m not saying people do but you know what it’s like and you want to be playing football as long as you can, especially at this level.
“I used to work as a plumber and I don’t want to go back to that.
“There always is a doubt that it might not happen for you, you need a bit of luck and you need the right person to be watching. I’m just grateful it happened to me.”
