Benitez says Jacob Murphy is training well, after worrying report emerged earlier this month

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Newcastle United’s Jacob Murphy is struggling for playing time.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has told BBC Newcastle that he thinks winger Jacob Murphy is ‘training well’ as he bids for playing time in the Premier League.

The Magpies have won two in a row, beating Watford and Bournemouth before the international break, and will now look to take that form into Monday’s clash against Burnley.

One player unlikely to start is winger Murphy, with Kenedy and Matt Ritchie almost certain to start in the two wide spots in Benitez’s usual 4-2-3-1 setup.

Murphy, a 2017 signing from Norwich City, arrived as an exciting addition but could only manage one goal and one assist last season in a tricky debut campaign in the top flight.

The 23-year-old was expected to kick on this season, but has started just twice this term and made an additional four substitute appearances, all totalling just 218 minutes of Premier League action.

Earlier this month, The Chronicle reported that Benitez had told Murphy to fight for his place at Newcastle having been disappointed with his start to the season; after all, twin winger Josh Murphy has been much more impressive at Cardiff.

Now, Benitez has offered an update on Murphy, telling BBC Newcastle that the wide man is training well, and just needs time to grow and learn more about playing in the Premier League.

“I think he’s a good lad, a good professional,” said Benitez. “He’s training really well, so it’s question of time for him to grow, to learn from the experienced players, and also what the Premier League means in some ways, like the pace and the strength of the defenders and the movements, things like that,” he added.