Matt Murray today insisted he remains on course to try and return to fitness during pre-season.

Reports had surfaced that the popular keeper was considering retirement and was in talks about a possible insurance payment should he take such action.

But the 29-year-told today said he assesses his insurance policy on a regular basis in the same way as the majority of footballers, and remains committed to aiming to return to training within two to three months.

"Most players have got some form of injury insurance in place and look into it at the start of each season," says Murray.

"All players are always potentially one tackle away or an accident away from finding themselves needing to look for a different profession.

"You need to cover your back and I'm no different.

"I've had some serious injuries in my career which I have to make my insurance company aware of.

"But I can say that I have absolutely no intention of retiring.

"The surgeon is still confident I can play again as can the physios and medical staff here at the club.

"That's what I'm continuing to work towards and that's why I'm going to be in over the summer working on my rehabilitation.

"At the moment it's all going well, the knee feels strong and I'm still aiming to be ready to join in again and be with the group at some stage of pre-season."

Murray is spending plenty of time at work at the training ground this summer, following the latest setback last November when he suffered damage to the patella tendon previously ruptured in a game while on loan at Hereford.

He has also starting his coaching qualifications, another long-standing ambition, but that is also of secondary importance behind the battle for fitness.

"Of course I have thought about other options as do all players," he added.

"I'm 29 now and I think once you get to that age as a footballer, even as a goalkeeper, you do start to think about the future and life after football.

"There are very few players who never have to work again!

"I want to stay in the game when I do finish and am looking into doing a sports science degree and have started my coaching badges as well.

"I've completed Level 2 and enjoyed that and will hopefully get onto Level 3 soon.

"That's definitely something else to consider but I'm hoping it might be in a good few years time.

"All of it though comes second to trying to get fit again which I am continuing with over the summer.

"I'm working hard and the knee feels good and if I was thinking about retiring I certainly wouldn't be coming in here during the summer to carry on my rehabilitation."