Jacob Murphy Aiming for England Call-Up After Newcastle Glory
Jacob Murphy is setting his sights on following in the footsteps of his Newcastle United teammates by earning a call-up to the England national team. The winger, who played a pivotal role in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup Final victory, is inspired by the recent achievements of his fellow players under manager Eddie Howe.
Dan Burn, the 32-year-old defender, recently made his debut for the Three Lions, adding to the growing list of Newcastle players who have been recognized on the international stage. This includes Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall, and Tino Livramento, all of whom have donned the England jersey since Howe took charge at St James’ Park.
Reflecting on his ambitions, Murphy stated: “That’s a conversation me and coach Graeme Jones have been having for a number of seasons. I just have to keep delivering strong performances, as the coaching staff is always keeping an eye on English talent.”
He continued, “Seeing Dan get his call-up was fantastic. It definitely provides that extra motivation, reminding us that it’s truly achievable.” Murphy, who has previously represented England at four youth levels, last played for the under-21 squad during the European Championships in 2017. This season, he has contributed significantly to Newcastle’s success with eight assists and five goals in the Premier League, including the crucial knockdown that led to Alexander Isak’s winning goal against Liverpool at Wembley.
After being a part of the squad that ended a 70-year wait for major silverware, Murphy believes that the Newcastle supporters will have plenty more to celebrate in the seasons to come. Following the jubilant bus parade attended by around 300,000 Geordies, he remarked: “I think the Newcastle fans and the council are going to have to get used to this level of celebration.”
He added, “Being the first team in so long to win a major trophy makes it even more special. I had no idea there were that many people in Newcastle! Driving through the streets daily, you don’t realize the sheer number of fans until you see them all gathered together. It was absolutely surreal.”
Looking ahead, Murphy emphasized the club’s ambitions: “As a team, we want to be in this position every season. We’ve set a benchmark with our recent achievements, and now we need to aim for that level consistently.”
He acknowledged the challenges ahead: “While we know it won’t happen every year due to the fierce competition, now that we’ve tasted success, we want more of it. We’ve spoken a lot about being pioneers. With the club on this upward trajectory, I believe we will see more titles and achievements in the future.”
Despite the celebrations and the two-week revelry following their Wembley triumph, the focus is shifting back to the Premier League. Newcastle will host Brentford on Wednesday, a crucial match as they pursue Champions League qualification with only ten games remaining in the season.
Murphy, who joined Newcastle from Norwich City for £12 million in 2017, concluded: “That’s the goal. We have ten massive games ahead of us. While we’re enjoying this moment, we all know there are 30 points up for grabs, and we need to give it our all.”
He added, “We may have secured some form of European football, but we’re determined to aim higher – we want the big prize.”
Joelinton: The ‘Big Angel’ Who Came to the Rescue
In an unexpected turn of events, Newcastle cult hero Joelinton came to the aid of his former boss after a fainting incident at a Subway restaurant. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who was Joelinton’s assistant during his time at Hoffenheim in Germany, affectionately refers to the Brazilian as his ‘angel’ following the incident.
Matarazzo recounted the frightening moment: “I was in line and suddenly started feeling unwell. I thought I could quickly grab a drink from the Coca-Cola machine, but before I knew it, I was fainting.”
When he regained consciousness, Matarazzo was met with a familiar face: “I opened my eyes and there was Joelinton! He was like a small, no, a big, angel. ‘Rino, Rino, are you okay?’ he asked.”
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