GLENN MURRAY is putting in the hard yards – as he aims for a first home start of the season.

The striker is among a group of players putting in extra fitness work as the Seagulls make good use of their international break.

Boss Chris Hughton said last season’s top-scorer is suffering no ill effects from an ankle injury or his brief run out as substitute at Arsenal.

He is among a clutch of players, including fellow attacker Izzy Brown plus longer-term injury absentees Beram Kayal and Sam Baldock, working hard on fitness.

Baldock and Kayal look set to get some playing time when the under-23s host Blackburn at the Amex a week on Monday.

Seagulls boss Hughton said: “The ones who haven’t been playing regularly get three really good days’ work this week and there are a few who fit into that group.

“It is a really good opportunity to get Glenn up to where or close to where we need to get him.

“The likes of Sam Baldock, Connor Goldson, Uwe Huenemeier, Gaetan Bong and Jamie Murphy are in that group.

“Glenn is okay. It has been frustrating for him to have missed a chunk through injury.

“But he is through that. He has trained, there are no ill effects on the injury front.

“There is probably no substitute for playing games but we can try and replicate as much as possible the levels they would get in a game.”

Hughton felt Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy game at Oxford came at the wrong time for Baldock and Kayal to see action.

He said: “We decided to make good use of these three days as opposed to using any of the senior players at Oxford.

“And, watching the game at Oxford, I was glad we did that only from the aspect of it being a great experience for the younger players.

“We play an under-23s game the day after Everton and we would look for both of them (Baldock and Kayal) to have an involvement in that game.”

Hughton revealed there was more than just running to Albion’s fitness work this week.

He said: “The ones who have been playing regularly, some of them don’t do three days.

“But we use the week really well. Most of our work would be football orientated and getting what we need as regards distances and high speed runs in our football work.”