Yeovil Town have re-signed striker Rhys Murphy after two years away from the club.
The 32-year-old has spent the past two seasons at National League side Southend United, and will rejoin when his contract at Roots Hall expires on July 1.
He made just 20 league appearances during a two-year spell in Essex which was ravaged by a knee injury.
However, the prolific frontman did score ten times during his time in Essex including once in injury time of the Shrimpers’ 2-0 win at Huish Park in April, a result which all but confirmed Yeovil’s relegation to National League South.
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, he said: “I had a really good time here, so when this opportunity came to me it was an easy decision to make.
“I have some good memories here and it is such a big football club and the manager is a really good manager, so I am really looking forward to working with him.
“There are big plans for the club and everyone wants to be playing for a club which is ambitious and this club wants to be higher up the leagues. We want to be winning games and I want to be scoring goals.”
He confirmed he had spoken with manager Mark Cooper, owner Martin Hellier and captain Josh Staunton and revealed he had been “excited” following the conversation with Cooper, who he played under during a spell at Forest Green Rovers between 2016-2018.
Murphy added: “We talked about how we are going to play, his vision for the club and next season and he got me excited to come and play for the club again.
“Obviously being relegated last year is not ideal, but playing in a lower league can be a positive, if you get this place with some good momentum and get people enjoying coming here watching games again.”
He described his spell at Southend as “disastrous” having scored eight times in the opening 18 games, he injured his knee in a 2-1 home win over the Glovers in January 2022 which put him out for nine months.
Having returned in October 2022, he then suffered an ankle injury and ended up playing just 11 times, scoring twice, last season.
The former Arsenal youngster explained: “I started off fine, playing games and scoring goals, and then an injury which took longer (to recover from) and then I came back and got another injury, so I was out for longer.
“So I was out again for months on end with no pre-season and then it’s just muscle injury after muscle injury, so it has been good to have a good summer’s break to get my body right and now I am looking forward to a pre-season with some hard work and ready for a long, hard season.”
Murphy comes with a pedigree for goal-scoring matched by one for struggling with injuries. In his last spell in South Somerset he scored 34 goals in 64 games as Darren Sarll’s side reached the National League play-off eliminator in 2019/20 with the frontman netting 20 times in 33 appearances.
In his second campaign he managed 13 goals in 31 appearances with both seasons hit by injury and illness and yet still finishing top scorer on both occasions.
His last season playing at National League South level came in 2018-19 when he finished the season as Chelmsford City’s top scorer with 28 goals in all competitions, earning a move to Huish Park.
Welcome back to Somerset, Rhys!
Murphy back, just confirms that Mr Cooper does not have a friggin clue or may be he will claim that he didn’t sign him!!!!
What planet are you on?
Oh dear. Why not try to be a little more positive! The sun is shining on HP once again let’s just enjoy something good
An astute signing. One goal-scoring striker in the bag. I’m looking forward to seeing who the next one will be.
If he can stay fit this could be a very astute signing.Think.Mick should bear in mind the level we are at.
Who were you expecting Mick? Harry Kane? We are in National league south, personally I think he’s a very good signing.
I agree with all comments below, however let’s see how fit Rhys Murphy stays throughout the season, will he be able to play a full 90 minutes game after game?? As to the level we are at, that does worry me. If Mr Cooper insists on playing 3/5 at the back with wingbacks then our next level could be Southern league, again. I do try to be positive but find it difficult, I have been supporting YTFC for over 60 years and will continue to do so. Maybe I am just an old fart with old fashioned ideas but football is so simple, if you get the ball wide then just put the cross into the box. If Murphy proves me wrong then I will be ready to accept my criticism and hold my hand up to apologise and take up origami!!!