Glenn Murray: Crystal Palace hitman

Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimoivc, Radamel Falcao, Cristiano Ronaldo and......Glenn Murray?!

It's true, Crystal Palace's Glenn Murray's strike record this season (29 league goals in 31 league games) elevates him into lofty company and earns him a place on Europe's top table for strikers. Not bad for a 29 year old journeyman whose career has seen play in the third tier of American football (not the one you throw) to Rochdale.

Before he joined Palace he did in fact play for their sworn enemies Brighton and Hove Albion and during his time in south London he has lighted up the scoring charts on course to make himself a firm fan favourite.

With 11 games remaining in the Championship Ian Holloway's men are well positioned to make the play offs this season but with only three points separating Palace and second place Hull the Eagles have their eye on an automatic promotion spot.

Murray's revelatory season is one of the main reasons for Palace's success this season and whilst Wilfried Zaha grabbed the headlines early in the campaign it has been the striker's incredible consistency that has seen his team find themselves in such a strong position this late in the season.

Palace have struggled at points this season but thanks to Murray's season-long hot streak they have stayed in touch with leaders atop the table.

Murray returns to Brighton to face his old team as Palace take on their old rivals Sunday lunchtime and look for the man from Cumbria to continue what he has been doing all season - score important goals that help his team advance further up the Championship table.

What more would you expect from a striker whose goal scoring record stands up impressively with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

Follow @JerryvanWav