McEnroe: Murray can find feet on clay

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Murray won just two matches in five tournaments on the surface last year including a five-set defeat to Gael Monfils in the first round of the French Open in Paris.

McEnroe told the Blackrock Tennis Podcast: "He needs to get out there and get some confidence. This is his most vulnerable surface but I think he can be successful."

The Scot hopes to kick off this season's clay campaign next week when he returns from injury in the Masters Series event in Rome - and McEnroe believes he has what it takes to succeed.

McEnroe added: "It is going to be tough for him initially. His fitness levels have improved and he has got some good variety, and he grew up playing on clay.

"However, there are a lot of guys out there that think they have a better chance against him on clay. He can't change pace as easily and hurt people as much as he would like.

"I think he can win two, three, four rounds at the French. He certainly won't be easy to beat and he is capable of getting to the round of 16 or the quarters.

Meanwhile McEnroe insists world number one Roger Federer needs to alter his own tactics on the surface in order to keep pace with the undisputed king of clay Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard beat Federer on the surface for the fifth time in Barcelona last week and McEnroe said: "It is quite clear that Nadal is the man to beat and Roger is going to have to do something different to beat Rafael.

"I think he should step it up and put some pressure on Nadal by going to the net more - make him hit passing shots on the big points. I'm not saying do it on every point, but he needs to give Nadal a different look."