Martin Wild speaks with returning midfielder, Paul Murray

Following more than two months on the injury sidelines, midfielder Paul Murray capped an impressive display with the opening goal in today's 3-0 home win against crisis club Luton.

Murray's long range effort - which broke the deadlock with just four minutes on the watch - was the springboard for further strikes from Ben Davies and Grant Holt, which gave the scoreline a more emphatic look about it.

"That's a much needed win," said Murray, who left the field to a standing ovation when he was substituted shortly after the second goal. "It makes those two recent draws a little more bearable. I'm not concerned about anyone else in this league; I've always said that. They've had a good run these lot - your Wycombe's and your Brentford's - with like twelve games unbeaten or something. But I'm not really bothered about other team's results. We still haven't gone on a long consistent run, but today was a much more improved performance after a couple of iffy results. We can do better with the ball than we have been doing, but we've put in a professional display so hopefully that will get us going."

Murray paid tribute to another Town player who has always been on the peripheries this season - young winger Chris Humphrey.

"People have questioned whether Chrissy is capable of going for 90 minutes, but the kid's done great today. He got back well, he got forward well, and there were plenty of dangerous crosses going in with a lot of variation. He's still young and learning his trade and he knows he has to work on the quality side of his game, but what a threat with the pace he's got. We didn't carry anyone today. There were some excellent individual performances and that was reflected in how well the team played."

Not one to try and deflate a player on an obvious high, I suggested to the 32 year-old that he'd hit cleaner balls in his career, than the one which put Town ahead after four minutes.

"I've hit plenty of those in my time," laughed Murray. "At the end of the day, you take them. I let it drop and it bobbled in and was just the kind of start we were looking for really."

Two weeks ago I chanced across Murray in the most unlikely of places - in a queue at the tea bar at Accrington. We spoke briefly and he was certain that despite two seven-nil victories, the best of Shrewsbury Town Football Club was still to come.

"At times today, I thought we came near to our best but not on a consistent level. We can go up another one from that. I have no doubt whatsoever that we are the best team in this league," he said. "Instead of saying it though, we've got to start showing it and I thought today was a step in the right direction. The minimum requirement to begin with is that everyone puts a shift in and works hard. That can only help your confidence. Once you start putting in the nasty stuff, whether it be tackles or headers, you start to grind down the opposition and it's easier to start passing it around."

Football changing rooms can be entirely different places dependent on results, and Murray hopes Town's blip for the season has come early, and is now consigned to the past.

"It's a brilliant atmosphere in there after getting the win. You can imagine how it felt after those two draws and the defeat at Accrington. We so badly wanted those points today, and it's just a brilliant feeling to be part of it again. I've had such a long time out, so to get that reception when I came off gave me a huge lift. Hopefully, that's an end to my injury problems for this season and it's onwards and upwards from hereon in. We've all got that mindset that wants promotion so badly. Second place isn't even in our thoughts. Collectively, only Champions will be good enough!"

Grant Holt has apparently been telling anyone who'll listen all about the heady heights of Blyth, as the league takes a break from league action next week, with the tricky looking cup tie coming hot on the heels of a midweek JPT game at home to Dagenham.

"Yeah, Holty's been telling everyone what a horrible place it is, having played up there. I've got quite a lot of friends up in the North East so I'm looking forward to it. It should be a fantastic game. I hear they pack them in up there and it's a cup-tie; that's what the FA Cup is all about. The midweek game offers a different route to Wembley, but again it's something all the players want to do well in. What is it - something like three games away from the final? So we've got to be looking to do well in that as well."

There's no doubting Murray wants to achieve great things with the club. Many more displays like the one this afternoon and he'll be very likely to realise his own, as well as his team-mate's lofty ambitions.