Newcastle have an 18-year-old Murphy replacement who no one is talking about

When Newcastle United announced that Eddie Howe would be stepping down from his post, it felt like the final thread of the noose had been tightened.

It felt like doomsday on Tyneside. Bruno Guimaraes had not yet completed a big-money move to Arsenal, but it was a driving factor behind Howe’s decision to call it a day, his side having slumped in the Premier League the year before, then selling Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali while struggling to convince top replacements to join the project.

In the end, they pulled through. Matthias Jaissle is at the wheel, and though it will be bumpy, he could drive the Magpies toward another illustrious era with time.

Newcastle still need to make some changes, though, with Jacob Murphy flattering to deceive out on the right wing.

Why Newcastle need to get rid of Jacob Murphy

Anthony Elanga is currently out injured, but Murphy is no longer the same player who proved such a crucial cog within Howe’s system.

The 31-year-old has struggled on the right wing, featuring five times in the Premier League this term but only creating one chance.

Murphy is out of contract at the end of the season, and perhaps the most frustrating part is he could have been sold for a pretty penny this summer just gone.

Nottingham Forest had a vested interest at the end of the transfer window. Everton were also keen. The Toon actually rejected a £15m bid for the veteran, and given the nominal impact he has had thus far under Jaissle’s wing, that could prove to be a mistake.

REUTERS/Lee Smith

After all, Bazoumana Toure is doing all he can to start playing football matches from the start after his £43m summer move from Hoffenheim. A natural left-sider, the Ivorian is dynamic enough to play all over, and he’s currently impressing and scoring with his nation.

However, Newcastle may have a youngster who nobody is talking about who is ready to take on the challenge of life at senior level.

Newcastle have a homegrown Murphy upgrade

Murphy has been a stalwart for Newcastle, but perhaps his day is done. The English winger is no longer the same sharp and industrious force he once was, the “unsung hero” of the Howe era, according to journalist Scott Wilson.

Now, Newcastle could have the perfect replacement cooking in the academy – and you probably haven’t heard of him. Meet Matheos Ferreira, an 18-year-old winger from Brazil who is making proper progress for the development side, starting each week on the right wing and bagging two goals already this year.

A naturally combative attacker, he joined the academy in 2020 and has since grown into a focal role. Yet to earn a chance at the highest level, Murphy’s deterioration and Elanga’s injury issues may accelerate his rise.

It’s worth noting that Ferreira tops the charts for Newcastle U21s this season for chances created and dribbles completed per 90, also putting up impressive defensive numbers which will serve him well in transitioning from youth football to the major stage.

Of course, Ferreira is not playing the same level of football as Murphy, but you can see several fundamental differences which could see the teenager thrive in Jaissle’s aggressive system.

Football content creator TomTalksToon has called Ferreira a “superstar Brazilian winger”. Perhaps that’s a touch hyperbolic, but for whatever reason, this prospect has not yet been picked up by wider observers, and he just might if he continues to play so well for the U21s, pushing for the kind of opportunity that would see Murphy demoted.

As ever with youngsters looking to break onto the major stage, Ferreira will need to prove he has physicality to thrive in the spot currently held by Murphy.

Elanga started the season strongly, and Toure will be itching to start some football games for Newcastle after his international escapades. This is to say that Murphy could be eased toward the exit, especially with Ferreira making such a promising start to the season with the U21s.