Newcastle United academy defender Alex Murphy is keen to play first-team football next season. The Republic of Ireland youth international has quickly settled into life on Tyneside since making the move from Galway last summer.
Murphy has captained the under-21 side on several occasions this season, while also being one of several prospects to earn call-ups to train with Eddie Howe's senior squad. The 18-year-old joined the first team for their pre-season training camp in Portugal just weeks after his arrival, while also making his first-team debut for as a substitute Newcastle in the Diriyah Season Cup victory over Al Hilal in December.
Murphy will celebrate his 19th birthday later this month, and the centre-back has stressed his desire to build upon his first-team experience in the League of Ireland in the coming campaign. He told ChronicleLive: "The aim is to be playing first-team football every week, whether it's here or somewhere else.
"You want to be playing first-team football, the under-21s is a good standard but the real aim is first-team football every week. That's what you want to be doing, and hopefully that's where I am."
READ MORE: Newcastle's 'detailed' transfer budget process and Yasir Al-Rumayyan's impact on spending strategy
Murphy hit the ground running with Newcastle's second string, only for a hip injury suffered in January to rule him out for two months. Having formerly swapped between left-back and centre-back, the academy graduate has impressed consistently in the heart of defence and admits he has benefitted from the experience of playing alongside the Magpies' first-team stars.
Murphy said: "It was the first injury I've had in nearly two or three years, so it was very frustrating because we had so many games as well during that period. It's the worst when you're just watching the team play and you can't be involved.
"I think I've improved a lot tactically over here. I was in the first-team in Galway, there it is all about winning. It's more tactics to get you to the first-team here. I think I've just improved my tactical awareness, how to be a centre-back, and how to play there at the top level."
When asked on which senior stars he had spoken with, Murphy added: "Lascelles, who hasn't been playing that much this season, but with all of his experience, he's always chatting to me and giving me tips whenever he can. Him, Botman, Schar, they're all top centre-backs so you can learn from every one of them."
BACK IN THE BIG TIME: ORDER YOUR NUFC END-OF-SEASON SPECIAL HERE
