Murray retains Scotland hope but puts Dundee first

Simon Murray believes he "could probably add something" to the Scotland squad but insists his main focus is on helping Dundee secure their Scottish Premiership status.

Despite the fact the Dark Blues, who are second bottom in the table, have been struggling this term, Murray, 33, has been in outstanding form.

He is the league's second top scorer with 15 goals and has netted 21 times in total across all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, there have been calls for the uncapped frontman to have his domestic form rewarded with international recognition.

"It is definitely an ambition from a young age, I think, that any player that wants to play football wants to represent their country," he said.

"It is obviously something that would be unbelievable but it is not my full focus or my focus at the moment, I am fully focussed on helping Dundee stay in the Premiership and if I do that, and I do my job, then if something like that was to happen then so be it.

"Scotland have been doing so well, they got to the Euros, they have got top players in the English Premier League and they have had [Kevin] Nisbet and [Lawrence] Shankland, who have been doing really well for season after season so it is a tough squad to get into.

"But, at the same time, I know I could probably add something to that but I just need to keep doing what I am doing and whatever takes place takes place."

Murray feels the current campaign "has probably been my best season" but his scoring form is no flash in the pan.

The Dundonian scored 23 times for Ross County last term, following a campaign of 21 with the Staggies and Queen's Park.

"It took me a wee bit to get going here, there was probably a bit of frustration in the early part of the season for myself in front of goal and I felt I left a few goals out there, but I think since the end of December I have kicked on and shown pretty good consistency," he explained.

"I came into full-time football a bit later. I feel like I have applied myself from then but maybe I am starting to get some rewards. In the last three seasons it has been pretty consistent."

'I'm scoring but I have got a job to do defensively'

He will be hoping his goals can help fire Dundee to safety over the coming weeks.

Tony Docherty's side are precariously placed in the relegation play-off spot, five points above bottom club St Johnstone and just one behind County and Kilmarnock.

Dundee visit Hearts on Saturday (15:00 BST) and Murray commented: "It is getting to the point of the season now where there are high-pressure games. It is not ultimately where we wanted to be but we are in this position now and we have just got to attack it head-on.

"We just need to focus on ourselves at this moment. The form we have been on isn't too bad, we have had a lot of good performances in the last couple of months so we just need to go and replicate that for the next five games and we have got more than enough to take confidence.

"I know I am scoring goals but ultimately I have got a job to do defensively as well. I am part of the reason we are maybe conceding a lot of goals as well so it is something we are looking at as a collective.

"It is not a blame game, a blame culture, it is just how do we improve together as 11 players out on the pitch and that is the way that I am looking at it."