25-year-old midfielder can now solidify his place in Newcastle’s lineup

With Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin out until February, Newcastle United should get the best out of Jacob Murphy.

There were rumors that Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin will be out for a while, but yesterday’s press conference confirmed that the wingers will be sidelined until February.

That is unfortunate news for Newcastle United as both players are dynamic talents that create goal scoring chances, but their absence should motivate others to perform. One player who will be roaring to get more opportunities as a starter is Jacob Murphy.

The 25-year-old has improved tremendously after two loan spells away from St. James’ Park, and he has a goal and an assist to his name this term. While those statistics may not be all that impressive, Murphy is showing more urgency than most players to get involved in the action in the final third.

The last game against Manchester City was a perfect example of that as Murphy was the only Magpie to threaten the opposition with three good chances. With Fraser and Saint-Maximin currently out of the picture, Murphy is the best winger in the squad.

Whoa, wait a second. What about Miguel Almiron and Matt Ritchie? They are both quality players, but Almiron is distracted and struggling to score goals, and Ritchie has been battling inconsistency.

Murphy needs to work on his composure with the ball at his feet, and he needs to realize that he cannot take on multiple defenders at once. However, the quality of his crosses into the box and his ability to test keepers from distance make him a key player to watch over the next month.