Jacob Murphy is coming off the back of a disappointing season at Newcastle United, scoring one goal with two assists from 33 Premier League games, so his future was uncertain.
Eddie Howe was expected to use his lucrative resources to improve key areas of the squad this summer and the Magpies were linked with wide forwards such as Moussa Diaby and Anthony Gordon, but Murphy featured in Newcastle’s pre-season friendly win over Gateshead so he might have a part to play in 2022/23.
Paddy Kenny says Newcastle outcasts can get themselves back in favour if they impress Howe before the season starts, telling Football Insider: “Some players, even the outcasts, will have the chance to impress and they could change Howe’s mind. Almost everyone there is playing for their future.”
Murphy has a lot to prove after a below-par campaign, but the 27-year-old was picked for the pre-season squad over the likes of Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez, Jeff Hendrick and Dwight Gayle, so Howe clearly considers him useful.
Clark, Fernandez, Hendrick and Gayle are training with the reserves and will be moved on this summer, but Murphy should be in and around the first-team. Whether he’ll start as many games as last season remains to be seen, but he’s shown enough promise to be given another chance.
Howe can’t turn over the entire squad in one transfer window, so he’ll have to keep some mid-level talent.
In other news, Sammy McIlroy hails Eddie Howe for transforming Joelinton
