The 33-year-old has three in three for Newcastle United and has proven himself to be a rather useful member of the squad.
It says a lot about Mike Ashley’s reign at Newcastle United that it’s taken until this season for The Magpies tycoon to part with a single penny to secure the signature of a player over the age of 30.
In fact, until 33-year-old Daryl Murphy arrived at St James’ Park via Ipswich Town, only Sol Campbell and Marlon Harewood turned up on Tyneside on the wrong side of the big three-zero during the last ten years. For what it’s worth, the former was a free signing, the latter a loan.
Ashley’s preference for young, talented players with a big resale value is well known, and widely despised, among Newcastle supporters with the team often suffering as a result of the sales of key players followed by insufficient investment in cheap, unproven alternatives.
And, according to the Daily Mirror, Ashley is keen on re-establishing that policy once more despite manager Rafa Benitez agreeing to stay on the basis that he would hold greater control over recruitment.
Yet, you’d think the much-maligned owner need only take a glance at Newcastle’s 4-0 hammering of Rotherham on Saturday to realise where he’d gone wrong. In the absence of Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Murphy’s experience, not to mention three goals in three games, has proven vital.
The veteran striker spent the last five seasons at Championship level with Ipswich, meaning his knowledge of the league’s rough-house tactics has given Newcastle’s recently blunt attack a different edge.
Take note Mr Ashley. You can make a rather astute signing without worrying about the potential profits.
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