Danny Murphy joins on loan

London born full back arrives to strengthen the squad

Motherwell's  Danny Murphy has joined Dunfermline on a short-term loan. The former Cork City defender has struggled to break into the first-team this year under Mark McGhee and has linked up at the Pars with Stephen Kenny whose knows him from the  Eircom League. He will stay at East End Park till January.

Speaking earlier today Stephen Kenny said "Danny is a tenacious full back with a very good left foot, that's been signed until 7^th of January and comes into the squad tomorrow."

The 24 year old full-back told the Motherwell club website "It's a good opportunity for me. Dunfermline have a lot of good players and I know of Stephen Kenny from my time in Ireland. Essentially I need to play games as it's not good for me to be sitting in the stand. I want to go there, get back match sharpness and prove myself good enough to get back into the Motherwell first-team."

The London born full-back joined up with Motherwell on a two-and-a-half year deal on New Years Day 2007. Danny made the breakthrough into senior football with Queen's Park Rangers for whom he made 25 league and cup appearances between 2000 and 2003. From there Murphy spent a time on trial with Wycombe Wanderers before joining Swindon for a short spell in the early part of the 2003-04 campaign.

Danny Murphy tackling Adam Hammill

Danny was on the move again soon after joining non-league Margate before crossing the Irish Sea to sign for Cork City. It was a move that was the making of the player as he quickly established himself as one of the finest players in the Irish League, winning recognition by claiming a place in the annual 'Team of the Season' two years running. He became an integral part of the Cork City side during that time and earned the moniker 'The Cockney Rebel' from supporters who idolised him during his time at Turners Cross.

Having earned a fine reputation in Ireland, Motherwell fans were eager to see Danny in action. That soon came when the defender came on as a substitute at half-time for the injured Jim Paterson in a narrow and somewhat undeserved defeat against Rangers in early January 2007. With Paterson still injured, Danny made his first start for 'Well in the Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie and helped the Steelmen to a 1-0 victory over the Diamonds.

The remainder of the season proved to be a bit of a mixed bag for Murphy with some fine displays such as at Easter Road and Tannadice interspersed with some less encouraging outings as the defender sought to get to grips with Scottish football.

Danny challenging Stephen Glass during match on 31st March this year

As it happened a season ending injury sadly followed at the end of April in the home encounter with Falkirk meaning Danny finished with 16 appearances for 'Well in his debut season.

After studying the players at his disposal, Mark McGhee decided to go with Jim Paterson in the left-back role. Two brief substitute appearances have been the only time Danny's made it into the first team thus far in the 2007-08 campaign and on 1st November was allowed to join the Pars on a two month loan deal. Still keen to be a success in the long term with the Steelmen, Murphy has stated he hopes the regular bout of first team football at East End Park will help him remain in Mark McGhee's plans for the future.