‘I want’ – Newcastle United defender set to leave today after transfer request

Alex Murphy is set to leave Newcastle United on loan today.

The 20-year-old defender played twice in the Premier League last season having featured in several matchday squads due to the Magpies’ unprecedented injury list.

But with Eddie Howe’s squad nearing full strength – the likes of Sven Botman and Matt Targett are back available, Murphy’s first-team involvement has been limited this term, meaning he has spent most of his time with under-21s.

Speaking to the club’s matchday programme earlier this month, the Republic of Ireland under-21s international revealed his desire to play senior football on a regular basis.

And he will get his wish in the second half of the campaign by joining League One play-off hopefuls Bolton Wanderers, according to Mail Sport’s Craig Hope.

“I want to play as many senior minutes as I can, whether that is here or somewhere else for the year,” Murphy said. “I want to get as many games under my belt as possible and then, hopefully, the aim is to play here [at Newcastle] every week.

“I want to show what I can do in men’s football and I feel I am at that stage to do that. A year or two ago, I wanted the same thing but I then got called up into Newcastle’s first team and you didn’t care about that because you were getting that experience here and training with the squad.

“I’m at the point where I need to go out and play every week, showing what I can do, but we’ll see what happens.”

Murphy joined Newcastle from League of Ireland outfit Galway United two-and-a-half-years ago. He is set to become the fourth player to leave St James’ Park on loan this month after Isaac Hayden (Portsmouth) and Charlie McArthur (Carlisle United) and Travis Hernes (Aalborg BK).