3 reasons why Brighton can gain promotion to the Premier League this season

Glenn Murray

The 33-year-old’s story is one which can be recited off the back of any respectable Brighton fan’s hand.

After firing the Albion to promotion in 2011, the Cumbrian-born striker swapped blue and white for red and blue up the A23 as he joined arch rivals Crystal Palace on a free transfer, as then boss Gus Poyet refused to match his wage demands.

After a quiet first season, ‘Muzza’ netted 30 times as the Eagles knocked out Brighton in the play-offs before defeating Watford 1-0 at Wembley Stadium to return to the top-flight after their seven-season absence.

After eight goals over two seasons in the Premier League, Murray moved back down to the South Coast and joined AFC Bournemouth for £4m on the deadline day of the 2015 summer transfer window.

Now back at the Albion, Brighton fans are beginning to question whether he could be the first player to be referred to as a legend for both sides, having already scored six goals in 12 games during his loan this campaign.

Formerly a penalty box sniffer, his game has developed endlessly as he’s now able to link up with midfielders and drift out wide as he integrates with the side and improves his all round game despite his ageing years.

On his return, he said that he was looking for another 30-goal season, and while that looks unlikely, if the striker can match that feat he recorded four seasons ago, the Seagulls may well just able to improve on last season and sneak into the automatic promotion places.