'Missed a trick'- Newcastle United joke lends Eddie Howe an idea amid injury crisis

Jacob Murphy's twin brother made a hilarious gesture towards the Newcastle United player with the photo going viral on social media.

Josh Murphy, who currently plays for League One side Oxford, showed up to his team’s Christmas party in a way familiar to identical twins- imitating Jacob by donning a United top and sling.

Jacob is currently sidelined due a shoulder injury which saw him undergo surgery last month. It's believed the 28-year-old will be back sometime in mid-January.

And who else but Jacob's twin brother to take the mick out of him. They look so alike that if the photo posted by one of Josh's teammates didn't post the photo with the caption 'Josh as Jacob', people would have believed it was the Magpie.

The photo has led some fans to believe Eddie Howe has missed a trick. "Eddie missed a trick here," said one fan. “Could have had Josh on the subs bench instead of Jacob and nobody would have known."

Another commented: "Looks more like Jacob Murphy than Jacob Murphy."

The Murphy brothers started their careers at Norwich City at the age of seven but both are childhood Newcastle United fans, with their parents being from the North East.