Hibs urged to 'bust a gut' to sign Simon Murray as transfer target told age just a number

Hibs have been urged to "bust a gut" to sign Simon Murray from Ross County this summer.

The striker is back on the shortlist at his old club as they seek reinforcements up top under new head coach David Gray. The boss played alongside the 32-year-old and knows just what he's capable of and that's why pundit and ex-Hibee Tam McManus believes he'd be an ideal signing at Easter Road as the club look to improve on last season's Premiership disappointment.

Murray may well be coming to the latter stages of his career but McManus insists he still has plenty to offer and could chip in with goals after a strong campaign with the Staggies last term.

And he hopes his former employers look towards other older pros from yesteryear as a reason to press ahead in their desire to sign Murray.

"Hibs should bust a gut to sign Simon Murray - the way the striker does every time he steps on the park. And for those who argue the Ross County man is too old at 32 then I’ll give you two reasons why he’s not. Mixu Paatelainen and Craig Brewster," McManus wrote in his Daily Record column.

"Two of the best strikers I had the privilege of playing with at Easter Road and both who were well into their 30s when they arrived. Mixu was knocking on 32 when Alex McLeish brought him back up the road from Wolves in 1998. But he went on to bang in double figures in all three of his seasons in Leith and ended up top scorer when we finished third in the top flight in the last of those.

"Like Brewster he was fit as a fiddle, energetic and absolutely led by example. Those are the same qualities I see in Simon Murray every time he plays. It’s no surprise to me that Hibs want the Staggies hitman after he bagged 23 goals last season. Just as it’s no shock that my other old club Dundee are also on his trail.

"In fact I reckon any side outside the Old Firm would take him if offered the chance. But a return to Hibs seems the right fit and, as I said, there’s absolutely no issue with his age. You can see he is as fit as a butcher’s dog.

"David Gray knows him from his first spell at the club, Malky Mackay knows him from Ross County, they know what he’s like in the dressing room.

"Some might argue he’d have no sell-on value but not all signings have to carry that. Murray is the tried and tested. You need experienced players you know can go straight in and produce the goods.

"This would be Hibs buying the finished article. I’ve always liked Simon. You know what you are getting with him - he’s strong, hard working, sets the tone and is a great presser. If you want to play a high press and a high tempo then he really gets after people.

"He’s exactly the type of player that fans would get behind, a guy that would pressure a defender into booting a ball out for a throw-in - that gets the whole crowd going.

"His goals record speaks for itself and I love the fact he gets really excited when he scores a goal and doesn’t just walk away or ‘shush’ the crowd.

"Twenty-three goals for Ross County is a fantastic return for a team that finished in the play-offs. Honestly, that’s like scoring 40 or 45 for Celtic or Rangers.

"I actually pinged Murray a message in June asking if he was going back to Easter Road. He’s not daft, he sent one of those tight-lipped emojis back to me which could have meant anything.

"So I couldn’t get much out of him. But I’m sure Hibs would if they managed to prise him back to Leith."