Gers can spur Hoops to glory

09 September 2010 17:00
Daryl Murphy insists Rangers' Champions League clash with Manchester United will inspire him to help Celtic regain the SPL title.[LNB] The Hoops, knocked out of both the Europa League and Champions League qualifiers this season, will have six free midweeks before Christmas while the Ibrox side enjoy the fruits of last season's SPL championship win, starting against the Red Devils next Tuesday.[LNB]Former Sunderland striker Murphy, 27, believes watching the Light Blues in their first Group C fixture will spur him on to grab back the title - and the one Champions League place up for grabs next season.[LNB]Speaking at Celtic Park, where along with new signing Anthony Stokes he was publicising the extension of a partnership between the club and coach company Citylink, he said: "I will watch them (Rangers), I always watch the Champions League games.[LNB]"We will see them playing against Manchester United but it can only give us that extra boost.[LNB]"We know we need to win the league this year, it's a simple as that.[LNB]"You want to play at the highest level you can and the incentive for me is to win the league and play there next year."[LNB]He continued: "We are all obviously disappointed to be knocked out both European competitions.[LNB]"You want to be there. You want to be lifting the title at the end of the season and playing in the Champions League.[LNB]"We all want to be there but we are not because we haven't been good enough.[LNB]"Rangers won the title, we have come up a bit short but hopefully this season we can turn it around."[LNB]Murphy is aware that Scotland's European co-efficient is in desperate need of a boost but he accepts that there are few around Celtic Park who will be backing their Old Firm rivals.[LNB]He said: "It's good for Scottish football if they do well but I don't think any Celtic fans will want to see them do well."[LNB]The Republic of Ireland striker does not subscribe to the theory that the extra demands made on Rangers in Europe will give Celtic the edge in the SPL title race.[LNB]"I don't buy in to that at all," he said.[LNB]"The way I see it, the more games they play against bigger and better opposition - if they do well -[LNB]gives them more confidence.[LNB]"So I'm sure not any team will be crying about playing in Europe and having more games."[LNB]Murphy scored his first Hoops' goal from the spot in the 1-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park before the international break.[LNB]He has teamed up again with Stokes, a fellow Irishman and former team mate at Sunderland, and Murphy is confident they could renew their partnership, starting against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday.[LNB]"The goal has come at a good time for me as the club have signed a new striker," Murphy said.[LNB]"You are going to have to fight for your place. I had to wait for my chance and hopefully I have done enough to start on Saturday.[LNB]"I know him (Stokes) from Sunderland and I think he will be a very good signing.[LNB]"I've played with him and we've always done quite well together.[LNB]"He's proven in this league and he will definitely score goals.[LNB]"It's up to the manager who he plays but it is exciting that he is there."[LNB]Stokes, who signed from Hibernian where he was top scorer last season, is hoping that he is given his debut alongside his former Stadium of Light team mate.[LNB]The 22-year-old striker said: "He's bit more of a target man, more physical than I am and I think we could do well.[LNB]"We have an understanding because we trained together at Sunderland for two years and played a lot of games together and we have a fair idea of what runs we are going to make and bits and pieces like that."[LNB]

Source: Team_Talk