Is Jacob Murphy emerging as a legitimate starter for Newcastle United?
By Cade Cracas
When it rains, it pours, and Newcastle United upheld that saying as they routed a 6-1 win over fifth-placed Tottenham on Sunday.
The Magpies became the second-fastest team to start a contest with a 5-0 lead, and two of those early goals came from depth winger Jacob Murphy. Murphy, who has had a limited experience with the Magpies this season might have just found an increase in minutes when all is said and done.
The 28-year-old has come off the bench for most of the season while playing over 1,200 total minutes.
At times he’s played low amounts ranging from roughly 45 all the way down to single digits, but in recent weeks his usage by Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has grown drastically.
Since the start of March, he has been more heavily involved in the rotation.
Having started just five Premier League contests on the season heading into March, as of April 23, he’s started the last seven games.
Those starts have helped contribute to Newcastle’s six wins in their last seven games. Throughout those, he’s helped give the team two goals and an assist on the wing while taking 13 shots.
Howe has primarily utilized him to help set up the attack and offense, but when called upon he’s been confident to rise to the occasion and take a shot if need be.
That stepping up became prevalent as Newcastle United took on the Tottenham Spurs this past Sunday.
In the opening 10 minutes, he found himself two goals, helping give the Magpies early momentum.
His first goal came after a shot from teammate Joelinton was deflected by Spurs goalkeeper Lloris and he was in the perfect spot to blast it into the back of the net.
For his second goal, it was a pure confidence shot on the outside of the 18.
Defender Fabian Schär dispossessed Spurs’ Son Heung-min and slotted the ball nicely to Murphy. After taking a couple of touches the man of the hour sent a heat-seeking missile from 30 yards out, finding the back netting.
“I was just happy to see it go in I knew it was a clean strike,” he told The Guardian. “It means everything. I always want to add value. And everyone is about adding value.”
That goal gave the Magpies a 3-0 lead.
With the rise of Murphy becoming prevalent in the absence of starting winger Allan Saint-Maximin, Howe may look for other avenues to keep the red-hot England native involved in the starting rotation when he returns.
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He will look to continue his play against Everton when the Magpies take them on this Thursday, April 27.