Josh Murphy makes ‘serious’ Portsmouth admission in ‘up-and-down’ verdict
Josh Murphy admits his start to life at Portsmouth has been “up and down” but is looking to kick on and build during a tough season.
Murphy, signed from Oxford United after helping the Us join Pompey in the Championship, has suffered with minor injury issues but netted his first competitive goal for the club against Hull City on 2 November.
The crucial equaliser secured a positive result ahead of the Blues’ trip to Plymouth Argyle this Tuesday [5 November].
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent’s Andy Moon [2 November], Murphy said: “It’s been up and down for me, obviously I’d like to be performing better than I have done.
“But I think that’s the same thing for the whole group. The challenge is, for example now, to go to Plymouth and replicate that second half [at Hull].
“We’ve had good games and followed them up with bad ones. We can kick it with the big boys and now we need to be serious. We’re capable of that.”
Josh Murphy considered the match-winner for Portsmouth
When John Mousinho brought his former Oxford teammate Murphy to Fratton Park, it seemed an obvious move and a match made in heaven.
To secure an experienced Championship operator at 29 on a free transfer was a coup, but his fitness and form have fluctuated since his arrival.
Murphy isn’t wet behind the ears – he knows what’s required of himself and the team at this level, and for this reason he is considered by Mousinho to be one of the players to lead in stepping things up.
The head coach branded the winger “outstanding” in pre-season, signalling he could be a potential match-winner in crucial games moving forward which could go a long way towards securing survival.
The threat of Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth on Tuesday is a prime example of these crucial encounters, with Pompey able to leapfrog Argyle with three points at Home Park.
In other Portsmouth news, David Norris gives his latest take on the Blues’ goalkeeping situation.
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