Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez believes there are parallels between his signing of Daryl Murphy, and that of Robbie Fowler when he was Liverpool boss.
Fowler returned to Liverpool in 2006 after five years playing at Leeds United and Manchester City, and Benitez believes the level of experience and influence in the dressing room an older striker can offer was very much in his mind when he bought Murphy from Ipswich Town. Benitez told the Chronicle:
“Robbie Fowler was a fantastic striker and we brought him back because he was not playing. We needed a specific plan for him. We worked very hard with him and he did well. He made a contribution on the pitch and in the dressing room. Murphy is different because he has scored goals and played more games.But in terms of his influence in the team and the fact he is so professional and such a nice lad, it’s a big positive.”
Murphy has had to work hard for his chances since his £3million move. The Irish international was omitted from the squad for the first six league matches, and a calf injury meant he was then sidelined until the start of the New Year.
His first league appearance came against Blackburn Rovers on January 2nd, although he had made two EFL Cup appearances in the first half of the season. He has however displaced Aleksandar Mitrovic as second choice forward behind Dwight Gayle, and he has subsequently scored five goals for the Magpies.
