Matt Ritchie makes ‘unbelievable’ Josh Murphy claim at Portsmouth
Josh Murphy has excelled for Portsmouth since joining from Oxford last summer.
The winger has notched an impressive return of seven goals and 11 assists in 38 Championship appearances this season.
His goal contributions have played a major role in Portsmouth’s efforts to survive in the Championship.
John Mousinho’s men now sit four points clear of the relegation zone with just four games remaining after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Derby.
Matt Ritchie believes Murphy could play in the Premier League
Murphy’s fellow summer signing, Matt Ritchie, has also played his part in Pompey’s bid for Championship survival, scoring four goals in 36 league outings.
| Josh Murphy stats | Championship 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 38 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 11 |
Speaking to the Football League Paper [Pg 9, 13 April], Ritchie said: “Of course he could [play in the Premier League].
“I’ve had the joys of playing with his brother at that level, and they are both unbelievable lads, first and foremost. If your son was to grow up like the Murphy brothers, you’d be proud.
“But they are also guys with great work ethics and, as footballers, they have a huge amount of quality and I mean both of them.”
Portsmouth should have enough to avoid relegation
Pompey have not won since their 1-0 victory over Blackburn on 29 March and were disappointed to suffer back-to-back losses at the hands of playoff chasers Millwall and Coventry.
Mousinho’s men had then hoped to get the better of relegation rivals Derby on Saturday, but were instead relieved as defender Rob Atkinson salvaged a 2-2 draw for his side with a 91st-minute equaliser.
The defender was at the heart of the action as he scored a brace for Pompey while also making the unwanted contribution of an own goal.
But while a victory has now evaded Portsmouth for three consecutive matches, Mousinho and Co appear likely to stay clear of trouble.
There are still two teams and four points between the Fratton Park club and the drop zone with a mere four fixtures still left to play.
Portsmouth also face three consecutive fixtures against mid-table sides Norwich, Watford, and Sheffield Wednesday, who all have little to play for after seeing their playoff chances fade, which could make a favourable run-in for Mousinho’s men.