Newcastle United certainly weren’t at their best against Leeds on Saturday.
Indeed, Eddie Howe has admitted as much as the toll of relying on a relatively small squad during a whole season appears to be having an impact on the players.
While Callum Wilson scored twice from the spot in a 2-2 draw, the performance was somewhat laboured at Elland Road and lacking in the kind of relentless intensity we’ve come to expect from Newcastle.
Injuries, of course, have not helped either.
Sean Longstaff is still suffering from a foot problem and Howe was also missing another key player for the game at Elland Road.
Jacob Murphy picks up injury
Like Longstaff, Jacob Murphy has rebuilt his Newcastle career under Howe’s watch.
Though not as regular a starter, the winger has played an important role for much of the season, starting 14 Premier League games even despite the signing of Anthony Gordon.
It is a blow then to hear the 28-year-old has picked up a fresh problem.
Murphy was included in the squad for the Leeds game and Howe has now explained why he did not play.
“Jacob just had a sore groin today. That’s why he didn’t enter the pitch,” he said (via The Chronicle).
Newcastle were lacking Murphy’s intensity
Murphy – described as “tremendous” by Rio Ferdinand – has been a joy to watch this season.
There may well be more talented and perhaps more celebrated players in Newcastle’s squad but the former Norwich forward is so loved by Howe for a reason.
A hard worker on the right-hand side and someone who clearly loves the fact he’s playing for his boyhood club, that energy was sorely lacking at Elland Road.
With Gordon not exactly hitting the ground running since his move from Everton, Murphy’s rebirth as a genuine option has been most welcome.
It would hardly be a surprise to see him play a big role in what’s left of this season.
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