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3 months ago
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Alex Murphy was one of the very first deals set up after the Newcastle United takeover, in terms of the club’s determination to put right a wasted decade and a half where Mike Ashley had refused to allow any kind of proper investment in bringing in the best young talent, never mind providing them with the necessary funding for infrastructure and complete coaching set-up.
The deal set up in advance and then Alex Murphy officially able to sign for Newcastle United when turning 18 in June 2022, moving to Tyneside the following month.
Two years on and great progress for the young defender, he turns 20 on the 25th June but got an early birthday present when last month Eddie Howe awarded him a new long-term contract.
A recognition of the progress made these past two years, Alex Murphy now regularly training with the first team squad and having been named on the bench in exactly half of Newcastle’s 38 Premier League matches last season.
Injuries obviously helped push Alex Murphy forward but clearly Eddie Howe rates the young defender.
Murphy has already made two first team appearances and surely more to follow, the 19 year old having came off the bench in the home wins over Chelsea and Sheffield United in the season just ended.
Having captained the club’s under 21s, Alex Murphy also showing key leadership traits.
Now a case of whether this coming 2024/25 season, Eddie Howe will keep Alex Murphy as part of his first team squad set-up, or send him out on loan to try and ensure more first team minutes.
With both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles set to miss at least a number of months early in the season, maybe Alex Murphy will continue to cover to the end of the calendar year, then if the likes of Botman and/or Lascelles get back fully fit, then the young Irish defender may head out on loan in January 2025.
Alex Murphy talking to the Irish Independent about life at Newcastle United, having moved from Galway in July 2022 to Tyneside:
“You’re just like a sponge, trying to take everything in.
“I think the younger you go in, the better. It definitely helped me a lot.
“Then going from Galway to Newcastle was a big jump. It was mad, but I was buzzing with the move. It was obviously tough at the start because you’re moving away from friends and family, all you know really.
“I never lived away from home before that, but everyone helped me settle in so much. It’s basically home now.
“You don’t see many [players moving to the Premier League], but hopefully there’ll be plenty more because the League of Ireland is growing.
“I went in with the Newcastle under 21s at first.
“We used to play the first team once a week. I remember my first session, seeing the speed of the players and how quick they move the ball. It was a big shock for me, to be honest. I thought, ‘I need to get up to speed here’.
“It took me a while to realise just how good those players are. So it was a big shock, but I don’t know what else I was expecting. The Premier League is probably the best level in the world. It has been a big step up, but I’m enjoying it.”
Alex Murphy on making his Newcastle United first team debut from the bench in November 2023, NUFC having gone 4-1 up against Chelsea:
“It was mad.
“I had been on the bench a couple of times before that and was just itching to get on. The score was going our way, so I was looking at him [Eddie Howe] and just hoping.
“It was a massive moment for my family and I.
“It’s really what you dream of when you’re younger.
“I’ve been training with them (the NUFC first team squad) since before Christmas, so it [the new contract] shows they are happy with me.
“They want me to push on. I feel I can do that and push for a starting place in the team.”

 
