The Newcastle United star who divides opinion - but has never let Eddie Howe down

Jacob Murphy is a player that divides opinion among Newcastle United fans - but his part in Alexander Isak’s late winner against Fulham shouldn’t go unnoticed.

As the visitors attempted to clear their lines, the 27-year-old - on as an 85th-minute substitute - chased back to cut out Tim Ream’s pass to Layvin Kurzawa and released the ball to Kieran Trippier.

It allowed the Magpies to immediately put the Cottagers under pressure again as eventually, a Sean Longstaff cross found Callum Wilson, whose dink across goal found Isak three yards out.

Murphy has taken a fair amount of stick recently, particularly after the FA Cup third round exit to Sheffield Wednesday, but Eddie Howe sees a lot of value in the player. After all, the former Norwich City man has featured in all-but one fixture this campaign.

And Howe is adamant that Murphy, signed by Rafa Benitez for £12million five-and-a-half-years ago, has never let him.

“I don’t remember too much about the build-up to the goal, what stuck in my head is the finish,” Howe said after the game. “But I’ll review it back and I’m sure I’ll be very pleased.

“Jacob [Murphy] has never let us down. He comes on and for me, he’s a very, very positive person and he’s influenced the team this year, so I’m really pleased with his impact in that.”

Being a boyhood Newcastle fan, no one can knock Murphy for living his dream. His short time on the pitch yesterday provided plenty of entertainment.

Asides from mastering the dark arts of football by kicking the ball away (twice), Murphy was caught on camera pulling a hilariously funny-looking face when Fulham boss Marco Silva vented his anger to referee Roberts Jones at full-time.

In some form, whether that be small or large, each member of Howe’s squad are contributing to the current success that has Newcastle third in the Premier League table and into their first League Cup semi-final since 1976.