A surprise star has emerged at Newcastle United in recent weeks.
While Alexander Isak is in fine form with seven goals and three assists in his last nine games, he is not the only Newcastle United player who is proving to be pivotal in the final third.
The same goes for Jacob Murphy, who boasts four goal contributions in his last two games.
The 29-year-old followed up his two assists against Brentford with two goals on Saturday, as Newcastle beat Leicester 4-0.
Eddie Howe was delighted with Murphy, having recalled him to the starting XI in recent weeks. He has started the Magpies’ last three games, and is doing his best to make the right wing position his own at a time when Newcastle want to sign a right winger.
Jacob Murphy of Newcastle United (23) celebrates after scoring Newcastle's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC ...
Photo by Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Troy Deeney includes Jacob Murphy in his team of the week
Murphy is doing himself no harm with his recent efforts in the final third, and his brace against Leicester City has resulted in him being included in Troy Deeney’s Premier League team of the week for BBC Sport.
“If I’m being totally honest, I never thought I’d do a Team of the Week where we’d be talking about Jacob Murphy,” he wrote.
“That’s probably the best compliment I can give him, he’s playing that well I have to put him in. Two goals at the weekend, excellent performance.”
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Murphy will always frustrate at Newcastle United
Despite scoring two goals against Leicester, a lot of Newcastle United fans will admit they were not impressed with Murphy’s performance.
The £12million man constantly gave possession away cheaply, while he also squandered some other big opportunities. It was far from a complete performance, but the most important part of football is putting the ball in the net and he was able to do that twice.
Murphy continuously plugs away and sticks to his task, and it is easy to understand why Howe is so keen to keep giving him opportunities.
While his overall performance can often be frustrating, more often than not Murphy provides a pivotal moment in the final third. As Howe says, Murphy is a ‘good supplier of chances’, and that proved to be true on Saturday.
His performance has earned him a place in Deeney’s team of the week, much to the shock of the former Watford striker. It will shock Toon fans too, who will be surprised to see Murphy in there but not Lewis Hall, who was arguably Newcastle United’s best player against Leicester.
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