Jacob Murphy explains what he was thinking before Newcastle wonder goal

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Jacob Murphy perhaps best embodies Newcastle United’s transformative since the takeover.

There are bigger names in front of him but the winger continues to do his job diligently, raising a game to a level many would have thought was way beyond him during the Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce years.

While Murphy will hardly ever be the player that whets the appetite of supporters, his rapid-fire rebuild in form under Eddie Howe has been something to behold.

An important member of the squad and a player who clearly just loves representing Newcastle, it is something of a dream story.

Written off in years gone by, the 28-year-old stepped up to the plate once more on Sunday against Tottenham.

Jacob Murphy explains wonder goal against Tottenham

Murphy had given Newcastle the lead in the first minute of the game after latching onto Hugo Lloris’ rather weak parry from Joelinton’s early shot.

His second, meanwhile, was the goal of the game.

Murphy picked up the ball around 30 yards and hit a swerving shot past a static Lloris to send Newcastle United into dreamland.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Murphy said: “I wasn’t surprised, I was just happy to see it go in, when I struck it I knew it was a clean strike.

“It means everything, I always want to add value whether I’m starting or coming off on the bench, everyone wants to do it.”

Murphy deserves a huge amount of respect

Murphy has turned things around is now perhaps operating in the kind of role people would have expected Ryan Fraser to undertake under Howe.

Seemingly happy to accept being a support option, you have to admire the attitude. He’s living the dream at the moment and making telling contributions along the way.

There may be bigger names swirling around the squad but for a player farmed out on loan to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom over the years, it is some story to make a real fist of things.