The Chester City targetman understands why Blues boss, Simon Davies, has a proven goalscorer at the top of his shopping list.

Murphy had the company of Nathan Lowndes, Simon Yeo, Kevin Ellison, Chris Holroyd, Paul McManus, and on loan Liverpool youngster Craig Lindfield in City's line of attack during the course of the last campaign.

But Lowndes was diagnosed with a career-threatening back injury and made his last appearance for Chester in their 2-1 home win against Bury in December.

Yeo was loaned out to Bury at the start of the year after failing to impress then-City manager, Bobby Williamson.

Ellison was pushed into attack on occasions rather than be employed in his familiar left-sided midfield role, but he was plagued by injuries and suspensions.

Lindfield spent one month on loan at Chester, but he failed to score despite showing pace and a good touch.

Holroyd missed the end of last season due to injury, and McManus was given a run in the starting line-up by Davies in the last few games of the campaign, but the pair failed to make their mark.

Murphy said: "I'd be the first one to admit that we were a bit light in attack last season.

"Everyone felt for Nathan Lowndes when he had to pack in, and we ended the season with a few young pros who performed well, but we didn't score as many goals as we would have liked.

"Ideally, every club, including Chester, needs four strikers vying for starting positions– it's good to see the gaffer has identified that situation.

"The second half of our season was very disappointing and I think everyone connected with Chester would just like to write it off."

Murphy, who joined Chester from Macclesfield, became a hero overnight by scoring for the Silkmen in their FA Cup defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

He added: "Every club is crying out for a striker who can score 20 goals in a season. It would be nice to unearth one.

"It was wrong that I was in the comfort zone last season because there was no competition for my place.

"I would benefit from someone else battling for my position because competition is always healthy. But my place was never under threat last season.

"I think we let go of Simon Yeo when we should have kept hold of him. He is the type of player that can always score goals as he showed at the start of the season.

"It's important after releasing six or seven players to strengthen the squad with the right players.

"The squad is light at the moment, but I'm sure Simon Davies has his own ideas and everything will be in place before our pre-season."