Scouting report: Matt Murray, Wolves

Matt Murray must cherish every match he plays these days. Sometimes as a footballer you simply have to accept that your body is not up to playing the game on a regular basis and Murray, I'm sure, will have had that feeling many times over the past five years.

He has spent almost four seasons in the treatment room nursing knee and foot injuries but, if this campaign is all or nothing for the 25-year-old, there is real encouragement to be had in the way he is performing. There have been rave reviews already and it was with interest that I went to Molineux last Friday wondering how the young lad I had trained with during my own time at Wolves was developing.

At 6ft 4in and nearly 14st, Murray is a natural. He is big, strong and extremely imposing, a fact borne out very early against Sunderland when he was forced to make a smart save at close quarters, spreading that big frame of his and denying the visitors a presentable chance. He is a good organiser and was in constant communication with his defence, even when the ball was with the other goalkeeper. As a result there was no confusion between him and his centre-backs, Gary Breen and Jody Craddock, over their responsibilities.

There is a solidity to Murray, he takes crosses when needed and is not rash, preferring to stay on his line when his judgment tells him the quality of a ball into the box is too good for him to claim. He always takes his line from where the ball is and has developed that knack of sweeping up behind his defence when balls are flung over the top, allowing Wolves to maintain a high line.

It was reminiscent of how he had excelled in the year Wolves were promoted to the Premiership in 2002-03. His form had been so impressive that season that he was picked twice for England's Under-21s and was man of the match in the play-off final against Sheffield United when he saved a penalty from Michael Brown.

Yet, having already endured a series of knee injuries earlier in his career which had cut short loan spells at Kingstonian and Slough, he has found the years since promotion wrecked by stress fractures of the foot that limited him to three league starts for Wolves in the three subsequent seasons. There is a sense now that he is attempting to make up for lost time.

There are still one or two weaknesses. His kicking can be wayward and, at times, the way he strikes the ball is ungainly, though he clearly knows his limitations and takes no chances. He is very left-footed, if still capable with his right, and does not half-volley or pick people out. His two centre-halves do not pass the ball back to him much but I doubt if that is because they do not trust him. Rather it is because Craddock and Breen are so comfortable on the ball.

One thing I did notice was Murray has no one on the near post at corners but the man who stands in front of him is marked on the inside, meaning he would be vulnerable if someone got a run at that near post. But I am nit-picking because, although not particularly busy on the night, he still made five outstanding saves. Each one displayed his impressive qualities: awareness, great positioning and reflexes that mark him out to be a lot better than the norm.

Yet, ultimately, this is not about Murray's ability to keep goal. His quality is undeniable. Instead his potential hinges on his ability to stay fit. If he does, he has the chance to go on and make a huge contribution for many years.

Age 25

Born Solihull

Position Goalkeeper

Height 6ft 4in

Weight 13st 10lb

Awareness 8/10

Handling 8/10

Shot-stopping 9/10

Kicking 7/10

Reflexes 9/10

Valuation £1m-£1.5m

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