2014/15 proved to be a season of two halves for midfielder Luke Murphy.

Out of the picture and facing an uncertain future heading into the winter months, the last thing on his mind would have been a nomination for the Player of the Year award.

However, the rejuvenated Murphy transformed himself into one of the first names on Neil Redfearn’s team-sheet for the second half of the campaign after being handed a United lifeline in January’s FA Cup trip to Sunderland.

The summer 2013 signing from Crewe remained a key part of the side from then onwards and his displays in the second half of the season saw the supporters vote him in the top five candidates for the Player of the Year award.

“It didn’t start off too well for me,” the 25-year-old admitted when reflecting on his campaign.

“I didn’t play for three months of the season, which was disappointing but I’m just happy to have played a part in the last half of the season and tried to help the team progress up the table.

“I wouldn’t have even thought about being nominated for the award at Christmas time, so it was a real honour to hear that I had been.

“I was training with the Under-21s every Saturday morning and then I was going home at three o’clock on a Saturday and watching Gillette Soccer Saturday.

“It was a hard period in my career, probably the hardest I’ve had so far.

“I’ve enjoyed the second half of the season, though, especially when we went on that run where we only lost three games in three months.”

Alex Mowatt eventually claimed the prestigious Player of the Year award at the recent End of Season Dinner, pipping Murphy and fellow nominees Marco Silvestri, Sam Byram and Lewis Cook to the trophy.

Murphy said: “For me, it had to be Mowatt.

“To score all those goals and to play how he has played, I’d definitely give it to him.”

Murphy’s stunning match-winner against league leaders Bournemouth was also among the nominees for the Goal of the Season award, but even he admits to voting for the eventual winner.

“I voted for Rudy against Watford where he hit it on the volley. That was my goal of the season," he said.

Murphy’s personal season highlight, January’s late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw against Birmingham, came at a particularly testing time of his life.

It was his first goal in United colours for almost nine months and he backed it up again three days later with his Goal of the Season contender to beat Bournemouth.

“I’d lost my grandma on the Thursday before the game and played on the Saturday and ended up scoring,” he explained.

“That was nice and that was for her. I’d probably say that was the highlight for me.”