Melbourne-born Murnane came through the Victory ranks, making his debut for the A-League club as an 18-year-old in 2013.

The fullback made 28 appearances for the club before he was released in May 2016. He then hooked up with Norwegian second-division club Kongsvinger IL Toppfotball.

Murnane admits his exit from Victory and transfer to Europe has been the transition he needed.

“I felt towards the end of my time in Melbourne things were very much in a pattern the whole time,” the left back told FourFourTwo.

“Even in my football I felt I was built in that system. I’d been through the youth team and that was my identity as a footballer. Coming here I feel like I’ve changed the way I am and I’ve become a different person and matured in a way on and off the field, which has been good for me.

“It was mutual [leaving Victory] because it came to the point where I needed something new, some motivation, just a new surrounding and a new environment to thrive on. I wasn’t saying that I was unhappy at Victory, it’s a great club and I loved being there.

"I’m grateful for everything that did for me. To be able to play in front of my family and in my hometown – it’s something special. I’ll always hold it with me. At the end of my time me and Kevin sat down and he thought it was the best thing for me to move on and I agreed on that.

"I felt it was almost like relief to have a new chapter somewhere.”

Murnane describes his 15 months in Norway as an “eye-opening experience”.

“My time there has been an eye-opening experience for me because of the football there, it’s a lot more physical,” he said.

“I’ve had to adapt to my game a fair bit. The life here is completely different to home. Melbourne is a pretty big city and having lived there my whole life. Going to a place like Kongsvinger, there’s not a lot of people and not a lot to do.

“It’s quite a relaxing place. [But] it was a shock to the culture when I first came to the town. Coming from Melbourne it was crazy, but I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here.”

The 22-year-old made 28 appearances for Kongsvinger in the 2017 season, with the club finishing tenth in the 16-team OBOS-ligaen.

“The season’s been alright,” he said.

“It’s been on a good personal level for me to be able to play. I broke into the starting XI.”

Now off-contract, Murnane said he hasn’t given up on returning to the A-League one day but staying in Europe is his priority.

“I feel like this is the best place for me to take my game to the next level,” the defender said.

“But I have to see what else is out there. For right now, I’m not quite sure. I haven’t really closed the door on the A-League but I had a trial at Western Sydney and it didn’t really work out for different reasons.

“I ended up over here and haven’t looked back. If the A-League was to come and open talks then I’d definitely be there for talking. But I’m enjoying life over here, it’s football.

“You’ve only got a short career so you’ve got to make the most of it.”