Journalist Andrew Musgrove wants to see Jacob Murphy start again for Newcastle United this Sunday afternoon.
Murphy has been handed back-to-back starts in the league for the first time by Eddie Howe over the last two games which has seen him score his first goal of the campaign, albeit a very simple tap-in after Callum Wilson squared the ball to him.
He appears to have impressed in his last two starts now ranking in the top three out of players to have started a league game for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (FBRef) so it will be interesting to see whether or not he’s allowed to star against Manchester United this weekend.
Musgrove has claimed on the Everything is Black and White podcast that he would start Murphy for the third game in a row this season, despite Allan Saint-Maximin being back.
“With Murphy and Saint-Maximin you’d be dropping a player who hasn’t done anything wrong, he scored, he’s played well in the last two games and is full of confidence and I think actually, I would start Murphy.
Should Murphy start this weekend?
“Then you have Saint-Maximin who will want to start and might feel a little bit hard done by that he’s not and he’ll be wanting to prove a point and come off that bench with energy.”
TIF Thoughts on Murphy’s spot in the team…
Just a few weeks ago it appeared that Murphy had no future at Newcastle and would be lucky to just make the bench in six, maybe 12 months’ time given he hadn’t started a league game all season, but after being handed his chance against Fulham and Brentford, he could well be the next player to have a big turnaround under Howe.
The Magpies boss has managed to seemingly turn around the careers of both Joelinton and now Miguel Almiron, players who looked hopeless under Steve Bruce and if he could do the same with Murphy it could be his biggest success yet.
Many fans will be frustrated with Murphy for his inconsistent form and lack of attacking output, but given he is a boyhood Newcastle fan, it would make it all the sweeter if he was to finally succeed on Tyneside.