Glenn Murray inspired by Bruno and elder statesman strikers

Even if, when asked how he keeps himself so sharp at almost 35, his opening line is a joke.

I don’t run around in training,” he replied with a laugh when asked the secrets of his enduring success.

The press pack who had waited beneath the West Stand to speak to him took it as a joke.

He certainly puts in the yards on matchday as the front man in what is statistically appears to be the Premier League’s hardest working team out of possession.

But the methods he employs and the lead he takes from his club captain, among others, are proving priceless to Albion.

The opening goal against Manchester United was followed by two against Fulham to take Albion to four points from as many games.

Approaching his 35th birthday, the man Albion signed originally from Rochdale getting on for 11 years ago is better than ever.

And his club were as grateful as ever for that on Saturday.

A clever bit of work to force a first-half penalty went unrewarded.

But he finished with composure to put his side back into the contest and end their run of almost five hours without a goal in league and cup.

Then more canny work forced the free-kick which led to the penalty which he thumped past Marcus Bettinelli to secure the point.

He still had time to produce a header which Bettinelli saved.

So how does he keep going? Murray said: “Obviously we’ve got a lot of science behind football these days and we’ve got a lot of people that can advise us on how best to look after our bodies.

“It’s the old things like ice baths and massages and the right nutrition and things, I think more teams have bought into yoga and things.

“As a club develops I think more becomes available for a player and I think I just try an take on everything that I can.

“I look at Bruno first hand every day he trains. He does as much running as everybody at the club. He looks sharp, looks good.

“I look at him, he’s three years older than me, and I think ‘Why not?’ “I also look at Peter Crouch and I feel as though that maybe even when a striker is not up for 90 minutes or a manager doesn’t feel he’s capable of 90 minutes, I think he is always capable of bringing something from the bench.

“One that I played with was Kevin Phillips and he got us promoted to the Premier League with Palace. He was 39.

“I take heart from players around me. I look at Jermain Defoe down at Bournemouth who looks as sharp as ever. Why can’t I play on?”

Murray has always been a goalscorer – going back even before his double on his Withdean debut against Crewe.

Or the winner he bagged on his second home debut for the club against Nottingham Forest.

But, certainly back in 2008, he was just a goalscorer. He is mentally and tactically sharper now. Physically sharper? Very possibly.

Look at photos of him back then.

Glenn Murray on the run at Leeds in 2008

He was okay then but he looks fitter and more streamlined now. His face even looks thinner.

If an intelligent footballer is learning all the time, players like Bruno and Glenn Murray have a wealth of experience by now.

The trick is to still be in shape to put that knowledge into practice in the world’s most demanding league, When it works, it is a joy to watch.

When Alisson, for example, decided he wanted time on the ball as a goalkeeper, Murray wasn’t impressed.

He was probably thinking “seen it all before” as he set about unsettling the latest Premier League stellar signing.

The same no doubt happens with defenders all the time.

He said: “You learn what you’re good at and you stick to it.

“I understand now that I’m not going to dribble at players and take two or three men on.

“I stick to what I’m good at. I try to hold the ball up, get it to the wing and get in the box. The team look for me and luckily the goals are still coming.

“I’ve had (my strengths) for a long time now! It’s just about knowing your game and more importantly the team knowing your game as well.

“I feel the team appreciate me for what I am and play to my strengths. It works.”

They appreciated his efforts in securing what Murray felt was, ultimately a good point.

He said: “When you’re 2-0 down in the league, home or away or anywhere against any opposition it’s good to come back and get a point.

“But in the circumstances the way we started and finished the game I felt as though we let ourselves down a little bit.

“We’ve put in two good performances – against Manchester United and, even though we didn’t get any points, up at Liverpool we felt we gave a good account of ourselves. To finish this afternoon on a positive note ahead of the international break.”

VINTAGE GOALS

Glenn Murray is one of two 34-year-olds to have scored in the Premier League this season. Murray, who turns 35 later this month, is nine months older than Jose Holebas, who scored for Watford against Crystal Palace last week.

Three 32-year-olds have netted already in the Prem - Nacho Monreal, David Silva and James Milner.