I made my Celtic debut in the Champions League before being sidelined for two years – now I’m in the shape of my life

DANE MURRAY insists he is in the best shape of his life after recovering from a double cruciate injury nightmare. Now the highly-rated defender is desperate to help Scotland Under-21s to the Euro 2025 finals and kick-start his Celtic career. The SunDane Murray was dealt an injury nightmare[/caption] AlamyBut the defender is back lining up for the Scotland youth team and Queen’s Park[/caption] Murray won his first cap in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Spain and is expected to start against Malta tomorrow evening. The 21-year-old made his Celts debut in a Champions League qualifier against FC Midtjylland in 2021 before his progress was halted by two years of injury hell. Murray said: “If we are talking about my injuries, we could be here a while! “About two years ago I injured my cruciate ligament for the first time and I was out for a year. “I then came back into training and about a month later I did the same thing to the same knee and I was out for another year. “I was in a good position at Celtic before that and it wasn’t great to do it twice. “But the club were great to me and their rehab was excellent. “The doctors tell me I shouldn’t have any more problems with the knee. I’ve come back in the best shape I have ever been in.” Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers handed Murray a new two-year contract before sending him on loan to Queen’s Park. For now, he just wants to help the Scots qualify for the Euros for the first time in 29 years. Murray said: “I enjoyed my debut and, for me, it’s just good to be playing again. “This is a completely different game and we are not going to underestimate Malta in any way. “It’s about concentrating fully and getting the job done.” Our New YouTube Channel Subscribe to our new Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel for all the latest football news, views and amazing moments. We’ve got every major development covered from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and the rest of the Scottish Premiership. Plus we have TWO brilliant new podcasts to watch every week… MONDAY Go Ballistic with Roger Hannah and special guest Kris Boyd will dissect all the weekend action and deliver their no-holds-barred reaction. WEDNESDAY Robert Grieve and Bill Leckie chew over the tastiest topics in Scottish football and offer their unique takes in their Coffee Club. FRIDAY Go Ballistic is back with Roger Hannah and top tipster Jim Delahunt looking ahead to the weekend games and analysing the biggest talking points. Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

I made my Celtic debut in the Champions League before being sidelined for two years – now I’m in the shape of my life

DANE MURRAY insists he is in the best shape of his life after recovering from a double cruciate injury nightmare.

Now the highly-rated defender is desperate to help Scotland Under-21s to the Euro 2025 finals and kick-start his Celtic career.

a soccer player wearing a green shirt that says safebet
The Sun
Dane Murray was dealt an injury nightmare[/caption]
a soccer player with the number 5 on his jersey
Alamy
But the defender is back lining up for the Scotland youth team and Queen’s Park[/caption]

Murray won his first cap in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Spain and is expected to start against Malta tomorrow evening.

The 21-year-old made his Celts debut in a Champions League qualifier against FC Midtjylland in 2021 before his progress was halted by two years of injury hell.

Murray said: “If we are talking about my injuries, we could be here a while!

“About two years ago I injured my cruciate ligament for the first time and I was out for a year.

“I then came back into training and about a month later I did the same thing to the same knee and I was out for another year.

“I was in a good position at Celtic before that and it wasn’t great to do it twice.

“But the club were great to me and their rehab was excellent.

“The doctors tell me I shouldn’t have any more problems with the knee. I’ve come back in the best shape I have ever been in.”

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers handed Murray a new two-year contract before sending him on loan to Queen’s Park.

For now, he just wants to help the Scots qualify for the Euros for the first time in 29 years.

Murray said: “I enjoyed my debut and, for me, it’s just good to be playing again.

“This is a completely different game and we are not going to underestimate Malta in any way.

“It’s about concentrating fully and getting the job done.”

Our New YouTube Channel

Subscribe to our new Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel for all the latest football news, views and amazing moments.

We’ve got every major development covered from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and the rest of the Scottish Premiership.

Plus we have TWO brilliant new podcasts to watch every week…

MONDAY

Go Ballistic with Roger Hannah and special guest Kris Boyd will dissect all the weekend action and deliver their no-holds-barred reaction.

WEDNESDAY

Robert Grieve and Bill Leckie chew over the tastiest topics in Scottish football and offer their unique takes in their Coffee Club.

FRIDAY

Go Ballistic is back with Roger Hannah and top tipster Jim Delahunt looking ahead to the weekend games and analysing the biggest talking points.

Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page