da dobrowin： Glasgow Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has been hit by a major transfer blow as long-term target Jacob Murphy is excited by the chance to play for Newcastle United, reports say…
What’s the word?
da pinup bet： In a recent interview with NUFC TV, Murphy has admitted that he thought there was a point where his Newcastle career was over. When asked to about how he fought his way back into contention to start for his boyhood club, he said: “It was tough. I had a run of games in October and November and I was voted Player of the Month when I had those games.
“It was tough to come in and not get many games, then get my games and do all right and then not to feature.
“There was the game against Stoke where I played well and got an assist and then I didn’t start again for another month.
“To get setbacks like that was tough because I was thinking: ‘What have I done wrong?’
“Those times were tough but looking back on it now it has moulded me into a stronger individual.”
However, his patience has been rewarded by Steve Bruce this season, as the 25-year-old scored on his first Premier League start since 2018.
Reports in recent times had revealed that Rangers were closely monitoring his situation in the summer. However, according to The Chronicle, Murphy is now desperate to seize his opportunity, which will be bad news for Gerrard, who may have been interested in signing him next summer, as his current contract is set to expire in 2021, so he may have only cost the club a fraction of the price.
Major blow?
Murphy is a dynamo on the wing and is averaging 1.5 dribbles in the Premier League this season, whilst he has also made 1.5 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game, via WhoScored, which shows that the attacking midfielder is more than capable of tracking back to help out at the back as well.
By comparison, both Brandon Barker and Jordan Jones are managing fewer than one dribble per game in the Scottish Premiership, as per WhoScored. Let’s face it, the least said about their defensive contributions, the better.
The statistics show that he would surely be an upgrade on the back-up options available if these numbers are anything to go by as Ianis Hagi arguably remains the club’s first-choice right winger. The 14-cap Romania international has featured 16 times for Gerrard’s side this season so far, which is more than both Barker and Jones combined.
Once hailed as a “fantastic” beast by former Leeds United and Aberdeen striker Noel Whelan, Murphy’s Newcastle teammate Rob Elliot believes the former 6-cap England U21 international has “great ability.”
Last season, Murphy spent time on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, where he made 44 appearances for Garry Monk’s side, scoring nine goals and supplying six assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.
One thing’s for sure, some Gers fans will secretly be hoping that he doesn’t become another one who got away. However, it’s surely only a matter of time before the Magpies offer him a new and improved deal to extend his £25k-per-week contract. After all, he spared Bruce’s blushes against Wolves with a sublime free kick.
AND in other news, Ross Wilson must reward Glasgow Rangers ace Glen Kamara with new contract…