EUAN MURRAY is desperate to see a green light at the end of the tunnel after enduring the worst period of his football career.

He will find out on Tuesday whether his third MRI of the season will return the news he’s longing to hear.

Murray has already been out of action for three months and more time on the sidelines isn’t a reality he wants to have to face.

“Football is what I live for,” he told Press Sport.

“Sometimes I try and sneak into our dugout instead of sitting in the stands because I want to be as close to the action as I can.

“It isn’t the same, and I know I’ll have a fight on my hands to get back in the team, but it’s something to work towards and that’s keeping me going.”

He ruptured a ligament in his spine and sustained two slipped discs in his neck when he fell heavily after contesting a header against Queen of the South in August.

While the initial two-month timescale for his return was tough to take, hearing in October that he would require another six weeks to heal was a “hammer blow”.

“There’s no point beating around the bush, it’s definitely been the hardest time of my career,” the 25-year-old said.

“The first eight weeks – as bad as the injury was – wasn’t too hard for me because I had it in my head that I’d be back after that.

“I didn’t expect the hammer blow after that. It came as a real shock.

“I had trained and felt great, and thought everything was going well.

“To then be told that you’re going to be out for at least another six weeks was hard.

“Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t depressed or miserable, it was just very hard to take.

“I started questioning things. It’s human nature.

“You start wondering whether you’ll get better or not.

“I’m not afraid to say that it’s been hard. I think of myself as someone who’s mentally strong but there was that doubt there.

“I’ve had stuff away from the park since I’ve signed here as well.

“I had a family bereavement which I kept to myself as it wasn’t easy for me and my family to take at the time.”

Murray was forthcoming in his praise for Pars boss Stevie Crawford, chairman Ross McArthur and his team-mates who, he says, have proved crucial in keeping him in good spirits.

He commented: “The gaffer pulled me aside and said he thought that it would be good for me to have a few days off.

“It was probably what I needed to gather my thoughts and really get my head around everything.

“In that time off, I spent time with family and kept telling myself that I was going to be fine and to trust the process.

“It was good of him to do that for me. He didn’t need to do it but he did.

“The club have been great with me throughout this time.

“As far as club chairmen go, you tend not to have any interaction with them.

“But every time I see Ross (McArthur) or when he’s texted me, he’s told me that there’s nothing for me to worry about and the club will do everything they can for me.

“The manager and coaches have been brilliant with me, and all the boys as well.

“In terms of coming to a new club, I’ve felt very supported.

“It’s made it a lot easier for me knowing all of these people have got my back.

“For now, it’s obviously about getting myself fit and repaying that support from them. Genuinely, to me and my family, it means a lot.”