Jacob Murphy became a viral sensation on Tuesday night after Newcastle United’s 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi final first leg.
The winger came on as a substitute in the second half for Miguel Almiron, and was involved in one of the game’s biggest flashpoints.
Allan Saint-Maximin was racing towards goal, only to be fouled by Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car. The Croatian had already been booked in the first half, and was given a second by referee Stuart Attwell.
The 26-year-old was sent off in the 86th minute, and received a parting gift from Murphy.
The £12million man waved Caleta-Car off the pitch in comical fashion, much to the amusement of the Newcastle fans.
It also had the Toon players laughing according to Callum Wilson, and his podcast partner Michail Antonio has admitted that he loved what Murphy did at St Mary’s on Tuesday night.
Michail Antonio loved Jacob Murphy’s wave vs Southampton
Antonio: “I’m not going to lie, I love it when Jacob Murphy was like ‘bye bye’.”
Wilson: “He’s a funny character and for him coming on as a sub, he gave the team what we needed at that moment, energy, tracking back. They had some tricky wingers and that just summed up his character. The guy has been sent off and he’s waving him off the field. He’s like that every day. It was good, it was funny and it’s made a bit of a thing on the internet! We were all laughing [in the dressing room] but it has probably given them a bit of extra motivation going into the second leg, which you want to limit.”
Murphy epitomising Newcastle’s spirit
Watching the game on Tuesday night, it was absolutely hilarious to see Murphy slyly waving Caleta-Car off the pitch after the red card. He also got a wave from Bruno Guimaraes.
But it is the Murphy one that has attracted the most attention, and Wilson has admitted that it could give Southampton extra motivation next week.
That is certainly true, but they should already be motivated enough given that it is a cup semi final.
Murphy is treading a fine line, and would be receiving lots of abuse if he was an opposition player and did that to someone in a black and white shirt. But because he plays for us, it’s alright. It’s the kind of behavior that you love from your own player, but absolutely loath from an opponent.
But that is the type of character Murphy is. He is a fan at heart, and he is also a prankster. Miguel Almiron recently called him the funniest player at the club, while he went wild in Riyadh when Newcastle ‘won’ the Diriyah Season Cup.
Now he is mocking players after receiving a red card, and it probably won’t be long before we see Murphy’s wave immortalised by Wor Flags.