Glenn Murray wants to get back up to speed to press Tomer Hemed for Albion’s striker starting spot.

Ankle damage sustained at Leicester sidelined last season’s top scorer from the Seagulls’ last away game, the draw at Watford.

Murray replaced Hemed after the Israeli headed the third goal in last Saturday’s win against West Brom and he will be on the bench again against his old club Bournemouth tonight.

“I just need to get some training under my belt and get back up to speed,” he said. “I lost a little bit of fitness during my three weeks out, so I just need to keep at it, look to get back into the team and push Tomer.

“I thought he did well in the West Brom game, the whole team played as a unit and we looked a lot more comfortable.

“We showed that we’re capable of winning games at this level.

“Leading into the first international break, it was a learning curve for us.

“During that learning curve we built confidence and belief in each other, and I think it all came together against West Brom.”

Murray had limited chances under Eddie Howe in the Premier League at Bournemouth before rejoining Albion last season, initially on loan and then permanently in January.

But he is full of praise for the way Howe has masterminded the Cherries’ climb from the third tier and his attention to detail.

The Argus:

Glenn Murray celebrates a goal for Bournemouth

“The job he’s done there, it will be a long time until it’s surpassed,” Murray said.

“He’s maintained the group for so long, coming from League One to being an established Premier League team.

“All managers are very different, but Eddie was very good at planning for the opposition and seeing where he believed we could hurt them.

“He’d spend the week coaching his team into his way of thinking, in preparation for doing it on a Saturday and making it all come together. His success speaks for itself.

“Everyone needs an opportunity and people need time as well, and I think he’s been given that at Bournemouth.

“He’s more than repaid them for the faith they’ve shown in him.”

Murray also believes it is only a matter of time before Jermain Defoe gets off the mark for Bournemouth in his second spell at the club.

The 34-year-old England striker, who had a loan stint with the Cherries at the start of his career, has drawn a blank since rejoining them from Sunderland in the summer on a free transfer.

“He’s brilliant,” Murray said. “He does it wherever he’s at, whether it’s a big club or small club.

“He’s an out-and-out goalscorer and he’s done it for a number of years at the highest level. He’s a fantastic role model for younger lads to look up towards.

“Whoever scores goals in the Premier League, and is English, deserves a call-up and I think he maybe should have been used a little more.

“He’s scored goals wherever he’s been, so I’m sure he’s pretty adaptable.

“No doubt if we give him a chance he’ll score so he’s one that we’ll be looking to keep under wraps.”