Football Daily - In Focus with Jacob Murphy

Episode Date: May 10, 2025

Liam MacDevitt catches up with Newcastle United’s Jacob Murphy in the North East. Murphy opens up about playing for his boyhood club, the on-field chemistry he has with striker Alexander Isak and dreaming of an England call-up.

BBC Sounds music radio podcast. The Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. Jacob, good to see you. And you buddy, right? So you haven't had many better days up here than today. It's a beautiful day. Beautiful day today. Yeah, good time to come up and be up here, isn't it?

Especially good to come and see you on fire at the minute. But just wanted to take it back because you've arrived this season. It's been so good to see, but growing up I saw a great photo of you in a Newcastle jersey when you were a kid. Brown A, old classic shirt on, but what was a young Jacob like? Well, it was always just me, me and Josh, my twin, out in the garden, playing football. And yeah, I think like everyone else, it's all you ever knew growing up. You know, we'd always be practicing, pretending to be our heroes in the garden and stuff like that. So yeah, you know, I wouldn't say it's too dissimilar to everyone else's childhood and upbringing.

Were you showering in the garden then? Did you both have the same person when you scored a goal? It was Yashira, Owen, Beckham. And then, yes, sometimes you didn't mind being goalkeepers as well because someone had to be a goalie. Take it in turns, yeah. And then, look, fast forward, you moved to Norwich at a young age to play there. Yep. We were 11 at the time when we moved from London to Norfolk. So yeah, you don't really

think all too much the reasons as to why you'd make such a move. But yeah, we moved and yeah, we just grew up out in Norfolk. Lovely countryside and stuff like that. and yeah, we just grew up out in Norfolk. Lovely countryside and stuff like that. So yeah, it was all just normal and natural. And yeah, that's how it went. In the famous Norwich team, set the standard winning the FA Youth Cup. Yeah, good memories.

Very good memories. We had a really good team then. And not only was it a good team, but it was such a good bond of friendship. And I think that was really what was the difference in helping us get such a triumph. Still in contact with a good handful of the boys there. Be coming to my wedding in the summer as well.

So yeah, no, we had great times growing up in the Norwich Youth System. Yeah, it was really good, really good days. How do you think it helped having Josh obviously flying at the minute at Fort Smith? Knowing that you both had each other side by side. Yeah, it's a weird one because you look at everyone else who have made a career in football and I had to do it alone and I was quite lucky that I had Josh as well. So yeah, we've always been each other's biggest support all the way through. You know, going back to the early days, I always had someone to practice with in the garden and likewise with Josh. So yeah, then we, you know, we just

took that connection relationship into our playing days and that's when people used to say, twin telekathy and stuff but yeah we know our chemistry. 99 chemistry I would cut in and only want to look to pass to Josh and Josh would do the same so yeah it worked really well. What was your aspirations then because looking through your career so many lone spells and you all know as much as anyone. Sometimes you go on a loan spell and it kicks you on and then there's so many people who go on a loan spell and it doesn't go the right way. But 30 years of age now in the Premier League, having had all of that experience, how did you stay so mentally focused on the end goal to be the player that we see now?

One of my biggest things is to fulfill my potential. So that's been something that's lived with me for a long time because you grow up and you know people say oh he's really good he can go on to X, Y and Z in the game and yeah to have so many people back in the day believing in what I could achieve in the game. It was always, I always find myself coming back to that, like if you can fulfil your potential, you know, you would end up in a good spot. So yeah, I think, you know, I'm well on my way to doing that. I think I'm making a lot of people proud along the way. But yeah, wonderful journey, crazy journey to get here. But I think everyone needs their own individual journey of weird and wonderful things to really

find themselves, challenge them, you know. I think at some point you do need that crossroads situation and then I think that's where your career will go one of two ways and yeah, I vowed to always choose the better path. What do you think that crossroads was for you? How did you manage that? Erm... Alright. I was fortunate enough to get early exposure in the football league because I just wasn't making it. And Norwich, you know, Josh was doing great.

So Josh was the one that was in and around the first team. So, you know, I didn't really want to stay and stay and like have to play reserve football and stuff like that so the opportunity came to go out on loan early doors and I was around 18 so yeah you know that puts you out your comfort zone and stuff like that so then fast forward a little bit and you know getting getting that exposure then I had a had a good Good spell at Coventry and that was really good which then set me up nicely to go back to Norwich with Alex Neil Who then gave me a full season at Norwich in the championship which off the back of that then got me to Newcastle So yeah, I was very thankful for you know the stuff I'd done in the EFL and you know I had spells at Swindon, Scunthorpe, Colchester and Black

pool. Rack in the middle of this place. Yeah yeah yeah there's yeah I think probably probably up to about ten clubs in all in all and each one presented a different challenge. So like all those experiences then the phone call rings and you're signing for your boyhood club. Talk me through those emotions. I know it's a few years ago now but every kid's dream. Yeah it was a crazy summer that summer because I'd gone away with England uns 21s for the Euros and yeah that's then when my agent let me know after that. It was like, oh, Newcastle are interested. So it was like, come on, let's get this done.

How many goals in your garden had you celebrated for sending it was the Gallagher and... You just lose count. Put me in there. Yeah, once you know a club like that, especially a team that you supported, comes in for you, it does make it an easy decision and then yeah, there we were. I think now seeing how well you're playing, but I always think those first moments where you walk

into a club, especially off the back of the amount of football league clubs you've been to, you see the badge for the first time, your shirt with the name on, I can't even imagine, it must be incredible. Yeah, really incredible and I'd always do that when I was younger look down like your chest and you know I would see an orange badge or 21s I did it quite a lot like looking down and you would see the England crest or whatever and so yeah to to be able to look down and yeah constantly have the the Newcastle crest on your shirt is amazing. And this season you must be on top of the world so many goals nearly 20 goals in assist this season.

Are you a target driven person? Was there something at the start of the season where you know, I want to get to this, I want to get to that, or are you like, I take it every game as it comes? I did have targets and I do have targets, but getting them is always achievable when you've got the right things in place to achieve. So yeah, I never try and force

it and I always like let it come to me if I'm doing the correct things. That's just how the universe works, it'll always find you. And yeah, and it's this season it's been finding me obviously. Got a great striker in Alex to be able to provide for. you know, great experience behind me, whether it's trips right back or if I've got Tino helping on the overlaps and stuff. I've got an awesome midfield three as well, so yeah, I think everything's like really clicking to help elevate my game and, you know, I think my game's then helping to elevate others as well. You and Alex are on your way to being a legendary Premier League duo with the Link Up. Has that come naturally or is it something you've had to work on?

It's supernatural. And then it wasn't until recently that people are throwing out the stats and stuff. You must see them though. Yeah, you see it and it's like, yeah, that's pretty cool. But like I was touching on earlier, it finds you. It wasn't something that we forced, it naturally developed. And even back end of last season, that connection was really starting to bud. And then we took it, going into this season.

And yeah, just can't stop finding him in the box. It's a good way to be. And I think, no matter what you play, you always seem to have that ability, which I think all the good players have, you always look happy. It looks like football you're enjoying. I know that goals and assists will help that,

but is that something maybe in, I'm going to say more experienced years, that you've learned to appreciate more, the game that you get to play every weekend and seeing you smile when you're scoring goals is what people love and enjoy? Yeah, I always say, you know, whatever's happening, I'm always enjoying my football. Football now is very stat driven, but if you can separate the stats to the game, you don't

have to force these things and stats are there quite a lot of times to fit a certain narrative or whatever. So, yeah, I always say I pride myself on my ability to help the team offensively and defensively. To help with the structures of the team, to help other people in possession so that they can show off their best attributes and stuff. There's so many little intricate details that each player needs to do unselfishly to allow others to thrive. And I'm more than happy to do that because that's just how I like to be. I know we've mentioned it, but the list of forward you and Alexander Isak are getting yourselves into for link-ups is unbelievable.

What's it like on the pitch, but also off the pitch? Does he seem like a good character on Vogue? Off the pitch he's super chilled. Really chilled, humble guy, very funny. But yeah, just on the pitch, he's just a really clever striker. He knows my game, he knows if I've got a yard of space where I want to put it so yeah he makes it he makes the job a lot easier for me because you know when I'm looking up into the box and stuff I can already see where his second movement's going to be so yeah just naturally and organically just happened and

you know that's a sign of a great striker who can pick up on cues of different players, also different pitch geographies so you know he can spin in behind, fox in the box, he can come in and link play. Yeah, got every single attribute you'd ever want in a number nine so yeah he does make it easier but then yeah then it's down to me to to find the right pass, find that little bit of quality to make sure that I'm giving him a good ball for him to finish it off. It's Walker! Walker scores! The Manchester City Club captain Carl Walker has joined AC Milan on loan.

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The Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. Your manager who deserves so much credit, what's he like behind behind the door on the training field that's brought out the Newcastle team that we've seen this season? Unbelievable. Yeah, I think everybody is always very complimentary of the work that he's done. You know, he makes you see the game very differently. He pushes you, challenges you every day, and in a way that really makes you want to learn more. You know, it's not shouting at you, telling you to do this, to that.

You know, he's always nudging you in the right direction. He makes you think, and usually you'll come up with a solution. So yeah, he's done great work with not only me, but you know, there's a whole host of players that he's done really good work with. Are there any specifics that you spoke about at the start of the season that's led to this

success this year? Nothing really I think it's just the compound effect of just working together every day you know he's been here for you know nearly three years, over three years. And when you're consistently working, consistently trying to get better over time, the harder you work, the more success you'll have. So yeah, it's just, I would say, a compound effect of everyone pulling in the right direction under great direction shift from the manager,

which has really kicked us on. You've got a leadership group going. You've got a good balance at Newcastle, young players, old players, you, Tripp, Stamberg and Callum Wilson in there. It's not just setting the fines though? No, so yeah, our leadership group, there's six of us, all of us with very different approaches to leadership and I think that weird balance of you know having someone who's forceful. Jamal Asel's brilliant at driving standards, great at using his voice to make sure that people are

doing what's needed for the betterment of the team and then you'll have someone like Dan Byrne who he's vocal but he leads by example, with his dedication on the pitch, off the pitch, setting standards. You mentioned there Dan Byrne, an incredible season, the moment of you guys at Wembley lifting the trophy and assisting in that game. His success now playing for England, more experienced player as well, has it given you hope that you can go and force yourself into that team in the summer? Because the stats like we were talking about, they're in your favour. Yeah, no, Dan, not only is he a really good friend, he's been a great inspiration for myself

and a lot of people in that dressing room. So, yeah, to see him, you know, get the accolades that he has and for people to really appreciate him as a player at 33, that is motivating. I'm highly motivated anyway, but it's that added incentive of your dreams of playing international football, they can still be there and credit to the new manager in putting faith in Dan at such an age. And yeah, he went there and he played and he was fantastic. So yeah, hopefully, you know, people at 30 years old aren't getting overlooked because I think 30 is the new 25.

I think 30 is the new 25. So yeah. But is it that thing you're talking about there of maximising your potential? Played at 18, played at 19, played, played at 20s, played at 21s. The next stage is the senior cooler. Yeah, that's the next stage and it's something that I can see. But I know that taking care of my club form is going to give me the best opportunity to hopefully one day be able to represent.

And on Wembley, how special was that day? Amazing. You know, people are always still talking about it. I was there in a red shirt, but don't tell anyone. I remember the day after, I got a free bacon sandwich as well. So yeah, shout out to the local bakery. Yeah, no, it was an incredible day. No, it was unbelievable and

the feeling was a lot different this time around to when we were runners-up a couple of seasons ago. We felt ready and kind of we felt that this was our time. The build-up was really good, there was a lot less nerves and then yeah as soon as the game started yeah something felt different and it did feel like our day. And the parade given the fact you have family local must have meant the world to you? Yeah it was great and I didn't expect there to be that many people just you know you see the picture of everyone standing on the the spiral car park and

people up in the trees all all sorts, it was like everyone clambering around everywhere and yeah, a smile didn't leave my face that whole few hours. It was a really good moment for the players and the fans to connect because the connection over the last few years has been second to none. And yeah, I think the club is in such a great spot and the fans are adding to it. A few games left, a bit of work still to do. It's top four, it's going to be, isn't it? Yep, that's the aim. That's the aim. You know, I think it's in our hands now.

We're in good form. Everyone's playing really well at the moment. So yeah, it's We're not looking around hoping that teams slip up We're fully confident in in the task at hand and what we have to do to get the job done So you can appreciate it. Thank you very much. My FBL has appreciated you this year as well. It's been good Yeah, you're not the you're not the only person who said that The football daily podcast on BBC sounds You're not the only person who has said that. analysis. They need to compete. That's your responsibility. So should we start questioning you as a manager then? To the biggest debate, he's a free agent at the end of the year. Clubs can contact him. Who knows what's arrived in the inbox. The Premier League review, only on The Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds.