Like all members of the Hatters' squad that jets off to Portugal today, Adam Murray isn't relishing running around in 30 degree heat.

However the Town's newest recruit - their fifth of the summer - couldn't be more excited to have completed his switch to Kenilworth Road after negotiating his release from Oxford United.

With two years left on his deal at the Kassam Stadium it came as a pleasant surprise to Richard Money that the 28-year-old was available.

But Murray - after being a part of the U's side that won promotion from the Blue Square Premier last season - is happy to draw a line under his career at the Kassam and is hopeful of adding a fifth promotion to his CV with the Hatters and help "get the club back where they belong".

"I was definitely surprised the way the situation at Oxford came about," the midfielder told lutontown.co.uk. "The manager was bringing in new players and there were some personal issues too, but once the decision was made it didn't take much persuasion from the people at Luton to sign here.

"The club speaks for itself and everyone knows that a club of Luton's stature should be playing at a higher level, but we are where we are and we've got to get on with it.

"That puts added pressure on the players and management but, like it was at Oxford, that's the kind of pressure we want because we're always striving to produce consistent performance and results."

His achievements in his career so far, especially at Conference level - a play-off winning campaign was also enjoyed whilst at Carlisle - suggests that the Town have pulled off another summer transfer coup, and with it, at 28, a player in his prime.

"I've been in the game for a while now," says Murray. "I've got experience of these situations and I've had four promotions. Now I'm looking for my fifth.

"Obviously I was looking for League football and that's my aim: with Luton. I've not come here simply because Luton are a big club, I've come here because I want to play with a club with real ambition and that is something which is matched here.

"I had a few options to sign for other clubs but I believe this is a club that can go further and I'm excited by the challenge."

Murray joins Dan Gleeson, Danny Crow, Kevin Pilkington and Andy Drury as the new faces in a Town dressing room that hope to embark on a successful 2010/11 campaign.

And with the nucleus of the squad that suffered play-off agony last season still intact, the newest member of the squad believes the momentum built-up from the scintillating second-half of the season can ensure that the team can hit the ground running when it all starts again on 14th August.

"Once you've got that winning attitude and you're not used to losing then it certainly makes things a lot easier," he says.

"The play-offs are a lottery but the way Luton finished the season - they were on a marvellous winning run and were doing more than just beating teams 1-0 - suggested that whatever it was they were doing, they were doing it right.

"That's the kind of momentum a team a needs, and that's something we've got to look at continuing from the first kick this season and hit the ground running when we play Altrincham.

"There might be a lot of running in store in Portugal - and when we return - but I'm getting my head down and, believe me, I'm already looking forward to it.

"Pre-season is all about preparation, and yes it's hard, but I can't wait. I had an injury lay-off towards the end of last season but I've been ready and raring to go for the last month."

So, for those Town fans that are unaware of the Birmingham-born midfielder, what kind of player will they expect to see donning the orange shirt next season?

Put simply he says: "Well, I like to get on the ball and influence the play.

"I keep things moving and like to create things."

He can also take a decent corner too. He scored direct from one for Oxford against Eastbourne the season before last.

That brings back memories of a game last season in which one of his new team-mates curled home a 97th-minute winning corner against the U's with Murray watching aghast in the stands.

"I couldn't believe it, we all couldn't believe it," admits the midfielder.

And neither could we.

Forget competition for places in the Town team, now there's competition for taking corners...