Newcastle United were without unsung hero Jacob Murphy against Manchester City on Saturday night, and the Magpies certainly felt his absence.
We desperately needed a player like Murphy in the second half. Newcastle were getting into some great positions down the right wing, but Miguel Almiron was incredibly wasteful.
The game was crying out for Murphy, with the not so eagle-eyed fans eager for Eddie Howe to bring the 28-year-old on. However, that was not possible as he was not even on the bench.
After the game, Howe explained why Murphy was not with the Newcastle team at the Etihad. He confirmed that his partner was due to give birth.
That explained Murphy’s mystery absence, and he has now taken to Instagram to issue an update to supporters.
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Jacob Murphy shares Instagram update
Murphy updated his story on his official Instagram account on Sunday, informing his followers that all was well after his partner gave birth to their son Roman.
He wrote: “Baby Roman arrived safely last night. Both he and Mum are doing amazing and our family is complete.”
While the Magpies were tasting defeat on Saturday night, it was an incredibly proud evening for Murphy. The Newcastle attacker looks delighted as he becomes a parent for the second time.
Great news for Newcastle that he is not injured
Not having Murphy available against Manchester City was a blow, but it was for good reason. Family comes first.
It is great to know that all is well with his partner and their son Roman, and that Murphy is not going to be out of action for an extended period of time.
He will most certainly return to this squad this weekend, when Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park.
It is going to be another very tough game for Howe’s side, and he will be eager for the £12million man to return. He was a real miss at the Etihad, which is a testament to how much he has improved and how much Almiron struggled.