By Anthony Hay
Crystal Palace hitman Glenn Murray says an England call-up is out of the question despite being the country’s leading goalscorer.
The 29-year-old, a free signing from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2011, hit his 27th goal of the season in Tuesday night’s 2-1 Championship win over Bristol City.
And while everyone thought England manager Roy Hodgson was in the Selhurst Park stand on Saturday to check on Wilfried Zaha – what’s to say Murray, who scored twice that afternoon, is not turning the manager’s head?
Murray said: “It never occurs to me all that much, it is all about Wilfried and not me.
“I am sure there will be a few English Premier League strikers fuming if I got ahead of them. I would never expect it.
“I think when [Jay] Bothroyd got called up there was a shortage of strikers. Grant Holt and Rickie Lambert would be fuming if I went ahead of them. I think a call up is out of the question.”
But Murray, who scored six goals last season, is still revelling in the sack-full of goals coming his way this time around and has no intentions of moving.
Murray, who signed a three-year deal when he joined, said: “I love scoring anywhere but Selhurst Park seems to be the place where I am scoring goals.
“I am enjoying my football here, who wouldn’t be? It’s a great place to be and I want to stay.”
Murray and his team-mates go to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend looking to make it five Championship games unbeaten.
The striker said: “Every game is tough in the Championship. Everyone seems to be fighting for something whether it be down at the bottom or up at the top.
“Hillsborough is a hard place to go and we will have to be at our best to get some points there.”
Current leading goalscorers (League)
Glenn Murray – Crystal Palace – 27
Tom Pope – Port Vale – 25
Charlie Austin – Burnley – 21
Jorden Rhodes – Blackburn – 21
Matej Vydra – Watford – 19
Robin Van Persie – Manchester United – 19
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