‘Gutted’: 28-year-old Newcastle player admits Eddie Howe really upset him earlier this season

Add as preferred source on Google

Eddie Howe is having to lean on his Newcastle United squad more and more as the season goes on, with the amount of games stretching the Magpies to the limit.

Newcastle have plenty of injury problems to contend with. Harvey Barnes is out long term so soon after his arrival from Leicester, while Callum Wilson is due to miss the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

So are Joelinton, Sven Botman and Joe Willock, who are also injured.

It means that Howe is having to rotate, but luckily he has a much deeper squad than last year. He has more players he can rely on, one of which is Jacob Murphy.

The 28-year-old has only started two games so far this season. His first was in the Champions League draw with AC Milan, where Murphy could not hide his delight as he heard the famous European anthem inside the San Siro. His second start came last week as the Magpies knocked Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup.

Murphy is starting to feature more and more, which will certainly please him after a slow start to the season.

Jacob Murphy was ‘gutted’ he did not feature much at the start of the season

Murphy has spoke to the club’s official website, and addressed not featuring much during the opening few weeks of the 2023/24 campaign.

“To not be featuring in the early part of the season… yeah, I was a bit gutted,” he said.

“But I knew at some point the manager would rely on me, would call upon me, and it’s always about being ready. There’s no point sulking. I know my value within the team. I knew to keep working hard and my moment would come.

“It came in an exciting way in starting the first Champions League game for two decades for my team.”

Now Newcastle really need Murphy

While Murphy has started two of Newcastle’s biggest games this season, he has barely featured in the Premier League.

He has got just two substitute appearances to his name, including a stoppage time outing in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Burnley.

But he will likely feature over the next week, especially with Anthony Gordon suspended for the Magpies’ next league game, which is away at West Ham on Sunday. That could hand Murphy the perfect opportunity to start his first Premier League game of the season.

The more the season goes on, the more Murphy will be required. It has been a slow start for him, but the volume of games means that minutes will be coming his way very soon.