DANE MURRAY is a class act when it comes to celebrations.
The 22-year-old Celtic centre-back extended his contract with the champions to June 2028 just hours before making his first start of the season in the Premier Sport League Cup encounter against Falkirk at Parkhead last night.
Obviously, it was written in the stars that Murray would do something special to mark the occasion and the towering defender did not disappoint by claiming his first goal in the holders’ 4-1 victory.
THE TOWER AND THE GLORY…Dane Murray (No.47) watches his header fly past Scott Bain into the Falkirk net for his first Celtic goal in the 4-1 win at Parkhead.
Murray’s big moment arrived in the 61st minute when he climbed above friend and foe to get his head to yet another corner-kick delivery from Arne Engels.
The Scotland Under-21 international met the Belgian’s left-wing cross with perfect timing to glance the ball wide of former team-mate Scott Bain to make it 3-0, adding to the first-half header from Daizen Maeda and a left-footed effort from Alistair Johnston shortly after the turnaround.
A delighted Brendan Rodgers, who cut short Murray’s loan spell at Queen’s Park last season to bring him back to Parkhead at the turn of the year, said: “It was great for him because he’s a great boy.
“He’s got a lot of potential and I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he’s going to really grow.
SMILES BETTER…Dane Murray enjoys his special moment.
“I think his ceiling’s so high. There’s areas of the game that he needs to work on. But he’s six foot four. He’s quick. He can take the ball.”
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “He has a comfort with the ball, which aligns with top players. Concentration, of course, is something that’s key for defenders.
“But I really, really like him.
“Hence the reason we’ve tied him down. I think he’s got a great future.”
