BORO boss Graham Westley praised Darren Murphy following the midfielder’s performance against Burton Albion.

Murphy is easing his way back into first team action after missing the majority of the season through a broken leg and after starting at Wycombe Wanderers a fortnight ago the Irishman got his second piece of league action on Tuesday evening when he came off the bench with 10 minutes to go and won his side a penalty which John Mousinho converted.

“He’s a massive player, Murph, and a fantastic character,” Westley said after the Burton win. “He’s the sort of man any manager would like in his squad. He certainly gives you every ounce of sweat and blood in his body.

“His attitude to his injury has been so positive, so professional, so disciplined, that it doesn’t surprise me that he comes back in and puts in the sort of performances that he put in at Wycombe and again tonight where he was just brilliant when he went on.

“He took real responsibility for the ball, drove out of midfield and I’m delighted that he made a substantial contribution by winning the penalty.

“Murph is hungry for football, hungry to play games and hungry to win and right now it’s a fantastic thing to have a player like that with that appetite in the squad available for selection.”