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Solano: Murphy can be key player for Newcastle

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Image for Solano: Murphy can be key player for Newcastle

Former Newcastle United great Nolberto Solano has pinpointed young winger Jacob Murphy as being a key player for the club this season.

The former Norwich City man, on a reported £25,000-per-week at St James’ Park [Source: Spotrac], started in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, but was unable to get anything going for his team.

Despite that, Solano feels he’ll be vital this year: “For me Jacob Murphy could be a key player for United if he puts his mind to it,” he told the Chronicle. “He’s got the pace and the potential, believe me.

“There were a couple of situations on Saturday where he just needed to look up and see what the options were. But he’ll get better because he’s got a good attitude.”

OPINION

It’s somewhat surprising that Murphy is the man Solano has identified as being key to Newcastle’s season, because the 23-year-old has flattered to deceive ever since he joined the club in 2017. To be fair to him, he has been in and out of the team since signing. But he hasn’t done anything to make anyone really stand up and take notice, which is why he hasn’t been given a sustained run in the team. Solano obviously sees something in him, though, so perhaps he’ll come good over the course of the campaign. His fellow wingers Kenedy and Christian Atsu have both been poor this year, so there’s an opportunity for him to cement himself in the starting eleven this year. He does have a good attitude, and he is a hard worker, so there’s definitely the chance he could improve in the coming months. Still, he’s not the player most people would have identified as being key for Newcastle.

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