Dan Burn’s admission about playing as a left-back for Newcastle United gives a telling indication about Alex Murphy’s standing under Eddie Howe.
With Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento injured, Burn has had to operate at left-back for Newcastle United in recent weeks.
While the England international has broadly done a good job, he has been criticised at times by supporters online.
Asking a 33-year-old central defender to play at left-back every three or four days during Newcastle’s relentless fixture schedule is hardly ideal for Howe.
Injuries to Hall and Livramento have forced his hand somewhat, although the fact Murphy has been overlooked is somewhat strange. Last month, Howe namechecked Murphy as a potential option at left-back.
Frustratingly for the Republic of Ireland youngster, Burn’s recent admission brings his struggles for first-team football into an even sharper focus.
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Dan Burn admits he would rather not play at left-back
Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Champions League clash with Athletic Bilbao, Burn admitted he would rather not be playing at left-back.
Though, clearly, a character like Burn is going to do whatever is asked of him, such a comment does further underline just how far Murphy is from the first-team picture.
“I’ve said it before, I want to play centre half,” he said.
“That’s my best position, I was Player of the Year last year playing in that position.”
While it would be foolish to expect the 21-year-old to suddenly start major games, to not even come on and provide some slight relief for Burn is revealing.
Howe continued to overlook one of the few left-backs available in his squad, which is hardly a ringing endorsement of Murphy’s standing.
Newcastle United’s decisions on Alex Murphy just aren’t making sense
The fact Howe named Murphy as a potential option immediately after Hall’s hamstring injury and then never even turned to him is strange. There have been no reports of an injury, after all.
Furthermore, Newcastle blocked Murphy from leaving on loan during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old has appeared in just one minute of senior football this season. If Howe wasn’t going to lean on him during an injury crisis at full-back, what was the point in that?
Perhaps Murphy will come good one day. Still, there will rarely be conditions better suited towards him actually getting into the team. Now Hall is back and Livramento will return soon, it’s almost impossible to imagine a scenario in which he plays.
