Fulham boss Mark Hughes hails intelligence of captain Danny Murphy

Skipper will play a key role once more for the Cottagers...

By Alex Richards

EPL,Bolton Wanderers Vs Fulham, Paul Robinson, Dickson Etuhu, Danny Murphy(Getty Images)
Fulham boss Mark Hughes has heaped praise on captain Danny Murphy, saying that the former Liverpool midfielder is proving a key component in the changes that he is trying to bring in at Craven Cottage.

Murphy, a key player in the Fulham side under Roy Hodgson that reached last season's Europa League final, is proving to be a vital cog in Hughes' side, due to not only his ability, but also thanks to his leadership and his intelligence.

"Danny’s a strong voice, both on the field and off it. He has a good influence on the group and that’s key," Hughes told Fulham's official website.

"When you do a lot of coaching of tactical and technical work you have to have an intelligent footballer to grasp the areas and issues which are important to a team, and Danny has that ability to grasp concepts very quickly and understand what I want in terms of what we do on the training ground.

"When you’re trying to change things a little bit he’s important because he understands what I’m asking of him and the team and he can translate that on the field of play for his team-mates.

"He’s a good footballer first and foremost, which is key, but the intelligence he has as a professional in understanding when changes need to be made in games, or when the opposition are giving you problems, he recognises those situations and is able to have an influence on those on the field of play.”

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14:17 GMT
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14:15 GMT
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14:13 GMT
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14:12 GMT
Alex Fisher reports from the Reebok Stadium: “Good afternoon from a wind swept Reebok Stadium. There are still spots of snow around the ground but the pitch looks in pristine condition despite all the adverse weather we've been having. This is a massive game for both sides - a real six-pointer at the bottom of the table between two Lancashire rivals. A draw would be no good to either side so I'm expecting to see both teams go all out for the win. No official team news yet, but Kevin Davies is expected to start for Bolton today.”
14:11 GMT
Wayne Veysey reports from Craven Cottage: “Welcome from a gloriously sunlit Craven Cottage, where conditions are like an alpine ski resort - bright and chilly in equal measure.  We still await official team news, although I'm told that Matthew Upson has won the battle of the centre-backs ahead of Jonathan Woodgate and will partner Ryan Shawcross in the absence of the suspended Robert Huth. Up front, we are expecting a strike force aggregating a combined 13ft, with Kenwyne Jones set to partner Peter Crouch.”
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