Troy Deeney claims Newcastle might have the “most underrated player” of 2024/25

If there’s one thing that Eddie Howe has been able to do better than almost every other current Premier League manager, it’s turning ordinary squad players into some of the most in-form across the entire league.

From Dan Burn to Miguel Almiron, often unsung heroes are elevated immensely by Howe’s approach to games and playing to their strengths.

And for one talent in particular, it’s led to arguably the best season of his career yet, where he’s finally getting major plaudits within the media.

Man of the moment Murphy

Prior to this season, Jacob Murphy’s best goal tally in a single season for Newcastle was four goals.

Fast forward to 2025, and Murphy has now scored four goals against Leicester City alone, and boasts 18 goal contributions from 27 starts this season.

Only Patrick Schick and Florian Wirtz have combined for more goals than Murphy and Alexander Isak this season, who coincidentally is the only other players (besides Mo Salah) to have recorded more goal contributions than Jacob Murphy in the Premier League since December 2024.

Team of the week star

After his clinical brace against Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s Foxes on Monday night, Murphy has been attracting some strong praise within the media for his consistent performances across the campaign and different competition.

Naming Murphy amongst his standout stars from Gameweek 31,  club legend Alan Shearer remarked how easy it has been for the aspiring England international to cement his place in Howe’s starting XI.

“His two early goals at Leicester added to what is already a wonderful season, having cemented his position in the Newcastle team.”

“The most underrated player this season” - Deeney

Likewise, Troy Deeney named Murphy in his own Team Of The Week for the BBC, the sole Magpie to make the featured list of talent.

In his column, Deeney writes: “Two great goals, has he been the most underrated player this season?”

“I would say I don't know of anyone who has gone more under the radar, but has been a seven-and-a-half or an eight out of 10 every game. He's been excellent.”

It’s perhaps disappointing that Bukayo Saka has returned to fitness ahead of the summer and the likes Eberechi Eze and Jarrod Bowen remain high in the Three Lions pecking order, otherwise there would be serious discussions over Murphy joining Dan Burn as yet another Magpie representative for the England National Team so late on in his playing career.