Birmingham City defender David Murphy tells of long battle to recover from knee injury

Nov 22 2009 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

“It has been hard but I’m staying positive, I’m a positive kind of guy anyway. I’m just looking forward to getting back playing. I can’t wait to get back training with the boys.”

Fortunately for Murphy, he has had a bright side to look to by coming home to his own bundle of joy every day.

The former Hibernian man’s wife Rachael gave birth to his first child Amelie on May 1 and his bouncing baby girl has ensured that he’s managed to keep a smile on his face.

“I’ve seen a lot of my daughter which has been great but I’d much rather be out on that football pitch as well,” he added.

“It’s fantastic, she’s growing too quick, she’s six-and-a-half months now. She hasn’t seen me play yet as she was born two weeks after I broke my knee.

“Sometimes, you go home and you’re not in the best frame of mind and then you see her smile, it makes it better.”

As well as watching Blues make a decent start to their top-flight survival bid, Murphy has also witnessed the arrival of the Carson Yeung regime at St Andrew’s during his lengthy lay off.

And while the north-east lad may have become something of a forgotten man on the football field, that’s not been the case off it with the new Chinese owners.

During Yeung’s first visit to Blues’ Wast Hills training ground last month, without prompting, the Hong Kong tycoon introduced himself to Murphy and asked how his knee was.

It was proof that Yeung and his people had done their homework on the club and that they were all too aware of every members of Big Eck’s squad.

“It did surprise me a little bit,” said Murphy on his unexpected first meeting with Yeung.

“We met him when he came into the training ground, it’s always nice for the owner to speak to you and hopefully he’ll bring good times for the club. He did ask how my knee was, he was up to date with all the news.

“I think he likes to keep up-to-date with what is going on. He certainly does his homework and they’re 100 per cent behind the club.

“It was nice for him to ask how I was. As much as I want to be back on the pitch, I’m sure they want all the boys to be out on the pitch as well.”