FIT-AGAIN Southend United forward Rhys Murphy wants the new year to signal a change in his fortunes.

Knee and ankle injuries restricted the 32-year-old to just six appearances during 2022.

But, having now worked his way back into contention, Murphy wants the next 12 months to be far more successful.

“It can’t get any worse than the year I’ve just had so I’m looking forward and I’m positive,” said Murphy.

“I want a better year but that’s not really setting the bar that high is it!

“I’ve got a few targets for myself.

“I signed for the club, it seems like a while ago now, with high hopes of getting the club back in the league and that’s not changed.

“Thankfully we’re in a much better place than we were last year.

“The staff that have come in have been brilliant and it’s a much better place now.

“Results have shown that as well.

“We’re sitting in the play-offs and we’re looking forward as a team.”

The Shrimpers sit sixth in the National League standings and Murphy is eager to play a part in ensuring Kevin Maher’s side stay towards the top end of the table.

“I play up front and I want to score goals because that’s my job,” said Murphy.

“I want to be part of a successful team and score goals within it.

“In the immediate future it’s just about getting fit as quickly as possible and, it’s a bit of a cliché, but you just look at that next game.

“You forget about yourself it’s just about winning and getting the three points.

“We want to get that momentum going again as a club.

“We had an unbelievable streak earlier on in the season and hopefully we can get back to that.

“We were almost in auto-pilot picking up points and hopefully this weekend can be the start of another run and we’ll see where that takes us.”

The Shrimpers head to Bromley on New Year’s Day having been beaten 1-0 by Andy Woodman’s side at Roots Hall on Boxing Day.

But Murphy is expecting a different kind of contest this weekend when the two teams go head to head for the second time in the space of seven days.

“I think it will be a different game to the one we just had,” said Murphy.

“It’s on a 3G pitch which is a quicker surface,” said the striker.

“I think we’ll be able to move the ball a lot quicker so hopefully we can hurt them.

“It looked like they came to our place with a game-plan and were slowing things down from the very first minute.

“When the pitch becomes that boggy it’s tough to get the momentum up and get at them.

“We’ve played some really good football this season but it seemed like one of those games where they would do anything to stop us getting our tails up.”

Blues will now be looking to get their own back and Murphy is desperate to be involved.

Some players – including Murphy’s team-mate Jake Hyde – are reluctant to play on 3G pitches given their recent injury record.

But Murphy will be available for selection on Sunday.

“I’ll be fine and out there if selected,” said Murphy.

“There aren’t many people who enjoy playing on the 3G whether you’re 20, 30 or 40.

“The surface is better than playing on a sticky, muddy pitch but you feel it more the next day than on the grass.

“But it is what it is and it’s not a problem so I’ll be available for selection.”

Sadly for Murphy he has not been available for selection too often during the past 12 months.

A knee injury – suffered against Yeovil Town in January – kept him sidelined for 10 months before he suffered an ankle problem at Barnet in just his third substitute appearance after returning.

“I injured my ankle and the ligaments in and around it against Barnet,” explained Murphy.

“I went up for a header, there was a tangle of legs and I twisted my ankle when I landed.

“It was a complete accident but it was really frustrating.

“You want to be playing football and when you see you’re going to be out for another couple of months you don’t want to accept it at first.

“You tell yourself it’s going to be alright but then you see the scan results and you think ‘here we go again’.

“It’s a frustrating period but you get through that and start to tick off little victories.

“Getting out the boot was one, walking, running, getting back to games and it was great to be back on the pitch the other day against Bromley.

“It would’ve been a lot better if it coincided with a victory but hopefully I can be back in the team as soon as possible.”

Murphy played the final eight minutes of the defeat at Roots Hall and is now looking to build on the display.

“It’s really good to be back for the second time,” said Murphy.

“Coming back and getting a real freak injury was frustrating but I’m feeling good now and it’s great to be back involved.

“Stef (Russo) and John (Gowens) and everyone has looked after me to help me get back fit as quickly as possible and I'd like to say a massive thank you to SPT Fitness for letting me use their facilities too.

"I can’t wait to really be back firing and helping the team again.”

But Murphy has yet to regain full fitness.

“I’m trying to catch up fitness wise as quickly as possible,” said Murphy.

“I spent a lot of time in the gym and a lot of time with Stef doing fitness work so I’ve kept in reasonable condition considering the lack of game-time I’ve had.

“Obviously you can’t replicate playing games and getting minutes so effectively I’m in a bit of a pre-season again.

“It’s all about working as hard as possible when you’re training and topping up in the gym or running after training sessions.

“That last bit is just getting minutes and game-time.

“We’ve got so many games now hopefully there will be opportunities to get on the pitch.

“I don’t just want to be out there though, I want to be impacting games and helping the teams pick up points.”