EUAN MURRAY has vowed to repay his manager’s faith after being named Dunfermline’s new skipper following “the most difficult period” of his career.

As reported previously in Press Sport, the 26-year-old was handed the armband ahead of the new campaign by Stevie Crawford in place of midfielder Paul Paton, who departed in the close season.

Centre back Murray, who joined last summer from local rivals Raith Rovers, had played just two games for his new club when, in a match at Queen of the South, he fell heavily after contesting a header.

The result was a ruptured ligament in his spine, two slipped discs in his neck, three MRI scans and five months out of action, which he described as a “hammer blow”.

Then, having marked his return with a goal against Morton in January, Murray would play just seven more matches – scoring in the last of those, in a draw at Partick Thistle – before the season was called to a premature halt because of coronavirus.

Speaking to Press Sport, the upbeat defender admitted that he couldn’t wait to return to pre-season training ahead of next month’s kick-off in the Betfred Cup and Championship, and says it will be an honour to lead out his team-mates.

“It’s a big honour for myself and is a very proud moment in my career, not only for myself, but for my family,” he commented.

“I said when I was signing at the club ahead of others that it was the size of the club that had drawn me to them. To be the captain of the club now and to lead a team out, hopefully in front of all the fans again, will mean the world to me.

“At the same time, I understand the responsibility of the role. It’s not something that I’m totally not used to; I’ve done it at different times at different clubs.

“There’s no point in being this happy just now and just easing off. It’s great, and I am massively honoured, but I’m also very aware and determined to take the role on and be a success.”

On appointing Murray as his captain, Crawford said that he saw the defender as “a leader”, and someone who “knows what it’s like sometimes to have to fight for something”.

The Pars head coach was impressed with the attitude shown by Murray during his recovery from injury, who continued: “I think we’ve got a very, open relationship and we’re similar in that sense; if one of us has got something on our mind, we’ll say it. That’s the way I like to go about things.

“The time I was out injured was the most difficult period of my career but the club – I’ve touched on the chairman and the manager especially, and all the coaching staff, all the lads and everyone about the place – were excellent with me, keeping my spirits up when I was down.

“At the same time, I tried to continue to lead by example, hopefully help people and be a positive influence around the changing room.

“I heard the manager talking about, and I would agree, I’ve never really had anything easy.

“I’ve had to fight for everything that I’ve had and hopefully that’s something that can rub off, especially on the younger lads, that realisation of how hard you need to work, and how much you need to want it, even when you do get a setback.

“At the time, it was a hammer blow to me to be out for the time I was. It was an unusual injury in terms of football but, at the same time, I always try as a football player not to get too up or too down.

“Again, that just comes back to experience in dealing with these kind of things, and hopefully I can pass that on to the other boys that are coming through.

“It’s a big boost to hear the manager’s got that faith and trust in you, and I’m just focused on hopefully repaying that trust this season.”