Exclusive: Mousinho and Hughes hailed after ‘super’ Portsmouth transfer deal
Josh Murphy leads the way for assists in the Championship this season, and has the highest number of league goal contributions of any free summer signing.
Those statistics are just the tip of the iceberg for a player whose experienced has proven vital time and again for former teammate John Mousinho, now the head coach of the 30-year-old.
Plucked from Oxford United after his Wembley brace secured the Us’ promotion to the Championship alongside Pompey, Murphy has even given Newcastle United’s twin brother Jacob a run for his money this year with their respective impacts.
Ian Darke makes Murphy relegation claim – ‘Invaluable’
Murphy recovered from an initial early-season injury to lead by example at Portsmouth this campaign, ensuring standards throughout the dressing room.
It has largely been those with prior Championship experience who have inevitably contributed to Pompey avoiding the drop, alongside welcome assistance from younger loanees such as the supreme Freddie Potts – who could go on to play at the very top.
Murphy recently took a clean sweep for the Portsmouth end-of-season awards at Fratton Park – claiming the Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season accolades, as well as being awarded with the Goal of the Season for his sensational strike against QPR back in February.
TV commentator and Blues supporter Ian Darke exclusively told Pompey News that he believes without Murphy, Portsmouth would be suffering relegation this season.
“He certainly deserves his awards. He’s been fantastic and when Pompey and their fans look at it, and wonder whether they’d have stayed up without him, the answer is probably not,” Darke said.
“His pace and threat really has frightened a lot of opposition defences and has opened a way to goal time and time again.
“So, he’s been invaluable. I wouldn’t say he’s been all that consistent, because like all wingers he’s had the odd ‘off’ day. But he’s had enough ‘on’ days to make a massive difference. A lot of clubs wanted to sign Murphy after he got Oxford promoted at Wembley, so it’s a great bit of business by Mousinho and Hughes.”
Portsmouth could send Hull City down on Saturday
A match-winning difference-maker akin to Murphy – likewise Colby Bishop or Callum Lang, Freddie Potts, or even a defensive player like Connor Ogilvie have all contributed heavily this year against the odds for Portsmouth.
A club who could have done with a little more of that themselves are final-day opponents Hull City, who head to Fratton Park this weekend (3 May) knowing defeat would condemn them to League One football next season.
| Championship assists 2024-25 | Total |
| Josh Murphy – Portsmouth | 14 |
| Tom Fellows – West Brom | 13 |
| Jack Rudoni – Coventry | 12 |
| Manor Solomon – Leeds | 12 |
| Finn Azaz – Middlesbrough | 11 |
| Junior Firpo – Leeds | 10 |
Pompey will look to finish on a high and claim a 12th home league win in front of the Fratton faithful, while Hull scrap for their lives.
The Tigers want their place in the Championship; Blues fans want their final-day glory; Murphy wants that assist record.