PAUL MURRAY will be given three months to earn himself a Premiership contract with Saints.

After leaving relegated QPR on a Bosman free, the right-sided midfielder or defender has impressed on a brief trial at Southampton.

And boss Stuart Gray will this week offer the 24-year-old an extended chance to prove his form and fitness after breaking a leg twice in three years.

Murray played the final quarter of the 3-0 win at Swindon on Saturday and, although he struggled to get into the game in midfield, Gray had already made up his mind.

He said: "It was difficult for him coming on when he did because the game was quite disjointed by then.

"It was hard for him to pick up the tempo - but I had seen enough in training.

"I am hoping we can thrash out a deal for him to stay for three months so we can have a proper look at him.

"I have liked what I have seen of him in training from day one. He played at Aldershot last week and his attitude was spot-on. He is very much in the Francis Benali mould.

"He has had a broken ankle which has held him back since he became an England B international.

"But he gets stuck in and he showed no fear in the tackle which suggests he is over the injury."

Murray will also give Saints extra cover through pre-season as they sort out a succession of niggling injuries.

They include Matthew Oakley and Chris Marsden (both knee), Jason Dodd and Dan Petrescu, recovering after summer surgery.

Wayne Bridge and Marian Pahars have also been sidelined but will be in contention for Sunday's game against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.