Source: Team_Talk
Celtic snap up Cats striker Murphy
Daryl Murphy is confident he can nail down a first-team spot at Celtic after leaving Sunderland to sign a three-year contract at Parkhead.[LNB] Murphy became Neil Lennon's fourth signing as Celtic manager on Friday afternoon and the 27-year-old immediately promised his new boss he will score goals.[LNB]"We want to win, that's the main objective here," he said.[LNB]"I also want to stake a claim to be first choice striker, that's my first aim.[LNB]"It's going to be hard because there are some good strikers here but that's the first thing I need to do, make sure the manager wants me to be his number one.[LNB]"That's what I've come here to hopefully achieve.[LNB]"I just want to get into the team as quickly as possible.[LNB]"It's going to be hard work but I think if I put in the work and the effort - which I will do - hopefully I can start every game and play a big part in winning the title.[LNB]"I've been used as a left-midfielder quite a lot in my career, which is not my position, it's a centre-forward.[LNB]"I know, if given the chance to play as a striker and a run of games, I can score goals, especially in a team like Celtic who will be attacking a lot."[LNB]Murphy spent the second half of last season on loan at Ipswich and admits it was not a difficult decision to quit Sunderland for Celtic.[LNB]He said: "Because of the fact that I wasn't playing and featuring in the manager's plans, it was an easy decision to leave.[LNB]"But I had some great times there and I'd like to say thanks to everyone involved there and the fans.[LNB]"A lot of my family support Celtic and they are die-hard fans.[LNB]"I supported them as a boy and grew up knowing about the club and what it has achieved.[LNB]"As soon as I heard it was concrete that they wanted me, it was an automatic choice."[LNB]Murphy now hopes to make his competitive debut in Celtic's Champions League third round qualifier, after they were paired with Portuguese side Braga in the draw earlier today.[LNB]"I hope I can be involved," he said.[LNB]"The Champions League draw is a tricky game and I don't know much about them. But I think they came second in the Portuguese league this year so it will be a tough game."[LNB]Portuguese Liga runners-up Braga are making their debut in the competition and sporting director Fernando Couto, the former Barcelona and Portugal defender, admits they have a tough tie.[LNB]"It's a difficult opponent, from the possible ones perhaps the most difficult," Couto said.[LNB]"But we are now at a very high level and all the teams at this stage are big teams.[LNB]"It's a great opponent from a very tough league, but we have our weapons. If we want to be among the best we must beat these kind of teams.[LNB]"We are going to play in a very difficult stadium but I think we have a chance."[LNB]Meanwhile, goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who yesterday completed his move to Fiorentina, paid tribute to Celtic after bringing his five-year spell in the east end of Glasgow to an end.[LNB]He said: "It has been a privilege to play for such a massive club like Celtic and the support that I have received has been amazing and made my time at the club a very special part of my career and my life.[LNB]"I would like to thank the club for their support and give the Celtic fans a special 'hail, hail!'.[LNB]"The club and the fans are unique and I will continue to take an interest and follow the progress of Celtic.[LNB]"I hope I can return as a spectator and a supporter in the future and I wish my successor the very best of luck."
