Daryl Murphy is set to disappoint a handful of Championship clubs by staying on at Newcastle United.
According to an interview in The Chronicle the striker is determined to have a crack at playing in the Premier League despite being branded a Championship specialist.
Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and former club Sunderland have been linked with moves for the striker that cost Newcastle £5m from Ipswich a year ago.
Murphy has worked his way into the Ireland squad in his thirties and fully intends to make the most of a late chance to play in the Premier League.
“No matter what level you are at you want to play at the highest level you can,” he said.
“I’m no different to anybody else. I want to play at the highest level against the best players. If I get a chance to do that then brilliant.”
Newcastle have still to bring in a new striker since winning promotion but Rafa Benitez’s squad is slowly taking shape.
Benitez was disappointed to miss out on Tammy Abraham who went on loan to Swansea rather than head to the north east.
After bringing in a new striker or two Benitez will have to decide whether to retain Murphy as a squad player or cash in by selling him back to a Championship side.
