Newcastle's "Mr. Reliable" is "gutted" but still ready to answer Eddie Howe's call

Eddie Howe's European Magpies are already feeling the heat of a hectic 2023/24 campaign, with a relentless match calendar and mounting injury woes giving the head coach the wrong kind of selection headaches.

However, as more and more key players are forced to sit on the sidelines, there emerges a golden opportunity for some squad members, like Jacob Murphy, to rise to the occasion.

Five big players are currently unavailable

The list of the Magpies' casualties continues to grow. Having only just joined from Leicester, Harvey Barnes faces an extended hiatus due to a toe issue.

Other prominent names like Callum Wilson (hamstring), Joelinton (also hamstring), Sven Botman (knee), and Joe Willock (achilles) are also sidelined and set to miss the crucial Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.

Is this Jacob Murphy's time to shine?

In these challenging times, Howe has the solace of a deeper bench compared to last term. One of the stars waiting for his turn is 28-year-old Jacob Murphy.

Although he's only started twice this season—in the exhilarating Champions League face-off at San Siro against AC Milan and the game where Manchester City were dumped out of the Carabao Cup—his importance in the squad is undeniable.

Speaking to the club's official website in a fantastic piece that was also published in the weekend's match programme, Murphy outlined his early-season frustrations at a lack of playing time, saying:

"To not be featuring in the early part of the season… yeah, I was a bit gutted. But, always the professional. There’s no point sulking. I know my value within the team. I knew to keep working hard and my moment would come."

A massive opportunity now awaits the 28-year-old

Murphy has only made it onto the pitch twice in the Premier League so far this campaign, not even having enough time to touch the ball in Saturday's 2-0 win over Burnley.

However, the stage is set for more opportunities, especially as Anthony Gordon will be suspended in the upcoming league match against West Ham due to his early accumulation of five yellow cards.

As the season progresses, and challenges mount, Murphy's role in the squad is only poised to grow. It might've been a slow start for the boyhood Toon fan, but the dynamics of the game ensure that his time to shine is just around the corner. We're sure he won't let any of us down.