1 MAN’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON
Unwanted Murphy out to prove big point to Rafa
DARYL MURPHY has more than one good reason to rediscover his scoring touch against Austria today.
Firstly, the big striker is determined to put his injury nightmare behind him and play his part in driving Ireland towards the World Cup.
But his club future is now on the line after Rafa Benitez told him last week that he won’t be part of Newcastle United’s plans in the Premier League next season.
Last week’s friendly run out against Mexico in America was Murphy’s first Irish appearance since scoring the vital equaliser away to Serbia in the opening qualifier of this campaign.
That was the 34-year-old’s first international goal - at the 23rd time of asking - but he hasn’t been able to capitalise on it owing to a persistent calf injury.
Murphy is not guaranteed to start today but as one of only two strikers in the squad, he is nailed on to play his part at Aviva Stadium.
And his motivation will be two fold as he knows a good personal performance will put him in the shop window for next season.
Murphy still has a year to run on his Toon deal but revealed: “I spoke to [Benitez] last week and he said, ‘It’s going to be hard for you to play next year’.
“He said they’re going to listen to a few offers. I said ‘that’s fine’. He thanked me for what I’ve done.”
Murphy only joined Newcastle from Ipswich in the days building up to that qualifier in Belgrade in which he saved the day.
He then scored six goals in 18 appearances in all competitions as the Magpies clinched the Championship title – but insists he has no axe to grind with Benitez.
“I always knew that that’s what I’d been brought in to do,” he said. “I had no illusions that I was going to be starting for Newcastle in the Premier League if we got promoted.
“In football you never know but I can’t see that happening the way the club wants to go forward and the money he’s going to get to spend on players. We’ll see what happens. I’ve another year and I’ll go back there in pre-season and just look at my options. I wasn’t playing that much.”
But Murphy knows his next move will be a crucial one.
With Ireland dreaming big, he’ll need to be playing regularly to feature in Russia next summer should Martin O’neill’s charges go all the way in Group D.
Murphy played at Euro 2016 but is in the last chance saloon as an international footballer.
“Hopefully something works out but there can’t be any greater incentive to go play games to try and play in a World Cup,” he said.
But we’re thinking too far ahead here! That’s hopefully what will happen.”
Victory against Austria today will certainly strengthen Ireland’s hand and Murphy added: “It’s a massive game.
“The manager has played me in big games, he can trust me and he knows I’m going to give everything whether I start or come off the bench.”
I spoke to Rafa and he told me the club would listen to offers. We’ll see what happens