Jacob Murphy has insisted he is not focused on his own long wait for a Premier League start with Newcastle United - insisting it is all hands on deck to reach Europe in the remainder of what can still be a "special" campaign.
The winger made some late impact in the Carabao Cup final on a day in which he played for the team he has supported since he was a boy just around the corner from where he was born near Wembley in 1995. Murphy's late effort from long range flashed wide and he managed another goal attempt in the final third, something United struggled to do at times on Sunday night.
The former Norwich star has not started a Premier League game since November and has been in the opening line-up just five times this season. When asked about if he had any personal frustrations about being his bench role this term Murphy insisted it's not about him.
Murphy told Chronicle Live: "Listen, whether I start or come off the bench, I always have a role to play. I will try to play that as best I can.
"All the boys know what I will bring. The gaffer knows exactly what I add to this team. So whatever contribution I can have towards this team. I will always give everything. Hopefully we can keep getting the results we need."
Murphy heads to the Etihad Stadium this weekend and back to the venue where he scored his first Newcastle goal in 2018 in a 3-1 defeat. Despite being underdogs for the encounter with Pep Guardiola's Premier League title contenders, Murphy says there is belief in the dressing room that the Magpies can get a result.
Murphy said: "Our focus now goes straight to Saturday lunchtime, a huge game against City. I am confident in this group.
"I hope everybody else has the belief that we do in that dressing room., because we can still achieve something very special this season."
And looking back on Sunday's defeat at Wembley, Murphy was measured with his response after the 2-0 defeat against Man United.
The winger said: "We controlled the game in large parts but when you are two down it was always going to be a tough game to get back into. We have a resilient group and we go again."
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