FORMER Motherwell star Jamie Murphy insists he is determined to do Scotland proud in the English Premier League after revealing his Brighton team-mates have mocked the standard of football north of the border.
The 27-year-old, who came through the youth set up at Fir Park, made 40 appearances for the Seagulls last season as they secured promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 34 years.
Murphy scored the first goal of Brighton’s pre-season campaign last Friday when he opened the scoring in 2-0 win over German side Fortuna Dusseldorf.
And he is determined to fly the flag for Scotland next term.
He said: “Sometimes I get a little ribbing off the boys about Scottish football.
“I’m always the first to stick up for it, because I’ve played there and I know how big the big teams are, bigger than some in the Premier League.
“Scotland still produces some top quality players.
"One of my old managers said before he looked for any players down in England he would look in Scotland first, and I think the big thing in Scotland is you get the opportunity to play younger than you do down in England."
Murphy, who has been linked with Championship outfit Sunderland this week, hopes starring in the richest league in the world will bolster his international hopes.
The gifted winger received a call-up to the provisional Scotland squad for last month’s World Cup qualifier against England before being cut from the final roster.
And he added: “To get promoted into the Premier League is a massive thing, especially for me coming from Scotland and working my way up.
“It’s always been an aim of mine to play for Scotland. I’ve been called up a couple of times and not managed to make an appearance yet, so that’s the next step on the ladder for me to get that appearance.”
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