It’s been a long while coming, but Jacob Murphy is finally showing why Newcastle spent around £12m to bring him in from Norwich in the summer of 2017.
Prior to this season, the former England U21 international had spent the last two campaigns out on loan at Championship sides West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, and there may have been genuine concern about whether he would ever make it at St James’ Park.
But his start to the new Premier League season has been one full of promise, and on Sunday night against Wolves, the £25k-a-week earning ace showed exactly why he seems to have finally found his feet in a Newcastle shirt.
Playing in an unfamiliar wing-back role, Murphy was undeniably the Magpies’ star player, combining defensive diligence with attacking intent. Even with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron being on the pitch, it was the former Canaries ace who offered the most going forward for Steve Bruce’s side.
As per Sofascore, he completed two of his three attempted dribbles, sent in five crosses and provided one key pass too. Not to mention the fact he stuck to his task defensively as well, making one tackle and interception each, and also winning five out of his nine total duels.
Then, of course, came his point-saving free-kick in the dying minutes of the game, which left Bruce absolutely delighted after the game. The Newcastle boss said: “He was arguably our best player today and I’m delighted for him. He had a big loan at Sheffield Wednesday last year and that did him the world of good.
“I never contemplated it (a loan move) from the first week he was back. He was a different player. Certainly physically he’s come back in really good condition. The development is there for everybody to see. Now it was about ‘can he come and perform at this level?’ He was certainly comfortable.”
Murphy must be on cloud nine at the moment after his performance, and Newcastle would do well to just back their in-form ace and use him more prominently as an attacking threat.
