Crystal Palace hitman Murray says England call-up is out of the question (From This Is Local London)

Eagles leading goalscorer is down the international call-up pecking order, or so he says

6:32am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in Crystal Palace FC

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