Falkirk ace Jacob Murrell on his Scottish Premiership player of the month prize and goalscoring form

Things really are now cooking for Scottish Premiership player of the month Jacob Murrell - and the Falkirk forward reckons that a more settled life in Scotland is fuelling his goalscoring form.

The former DC United ace, 22, joined John McGlynn’s side back in August and has now netted five goals in just 10 outings after making his debut off the bench away to Celtic. That day, Murrell played a role in the Bairns grabbing a goal back but he suffered two defeats in his first two appearances, with a couple of big misses against Rangers making it a challenging start to life in Scotland.

But a brilliant header at Tannadice a few days later got him off the mark for Falkirk, and the forward really found his feet in the top flight after the extended international break. That breather allowed Murrell to move into a flat in Glasgow - and to start to cook his own meals, which was a big thing for the Maryland native.

Falkirk ace Jacob Murrell is loving life in Scotland

"Off the field, it is little things... like when I went to the grocery store, I couldn't find eggs, and it was because they aren't in the fridge here. Back home they're only in the fridge, so they're on the shelf here,” Murrell explained after being presented with the SPFL’s player of the month honour on Friday.

"When I was pumping my gas for the first time it was different too. I just got a Mercedes GLA and it is petrol rather than diesel. In America you pay first and then you pump it, and I didn't realise that I would pump it and then pay, so I had no idea how to do that. So a lot of little lifestyle things that you just would have no idea about. I've gotten myself into a good routine now. I have a good living situation. The big one for me is being able to cook my own food. I think that makes a big difference, knowing exactly what I am putting in my body and fueling with.

"From day one, everyone has been incredible to me. After a month or so being here, I came back from the international break and was in a better place. I was in my own apartment, got my car, got into a good routine as a I said. The food was really good at the hotel I was staying at previously, it was just simply that sometimes I want to cook my own stuff and manage the oils and stuff that I'm putting into my body.

Murrell added: “I think that it's always drilled into us (food intake as an athlete in the US). For me, it was something I had to mature about when I became a pro. I've always been very disciplined about my routines and the way I work, but my diet was always something that I lacked when I was in college. I kind of just ate whatever, just because I was always playing, always running, I burned a ton of calories and didn't really focus on it too much. I had to learn pretty quickly that you can't do that.”

On the pitch, the striker has shown both his penalty-box prowess and his ability to shoot from range. What has been a bit of a surprise, even for Murrell himself, has been his aerial ability. Two of his goals so far have come from headers - with both being equally accurate and powerful.

"Ryan Strain's service has been incredible,” Murrell said. “It's easy when he puts the ball on a platter for you to head in. He's been putting incredible balls in, honestly, so good. He's injured now but hopefully it's a quick turnaround for him. I think that's always something I've wanted to work on more. And I got to learn from the best in Christian Benteke back in DC. Just working with him throughout the years, watching him, watching how good he was in the air and how well he timed his jumps and his headers. It's something I learned from him.”

Murrell also says that he has grown wise to Falkirk’s changing room fine system. He told of being fined on his first day at the club for not wearing sliders. Ethan Ross, who scored against Celtic last weekend, previously dobbed the American duo - including CJ Fodrey - in for being two near the top of fine list.

"No, no, no. That's terrible from him!,” Murrell joked. "Back in MLS, we were given flip flops. I didn't realise that they weren't provided here, so I didn't bring them with me on the first day... I was walking around the facility barefoot because I didn't have shoes to wear. That's a fine, as I found out. It was early days for me, trying to learn the fines and stuff like that. I'm not getting fined now.”