Murphy guns for success

FULLY IN TOON: New Athletic recruit Rhys Murphy, a boyhood Newcastle supporters, hopes to play his part in guiding his new club to the play-offs. PICTURE: TIM BRADLEY

NO-ONE can say new Oldham striker Rhys Murphy doesn’t have a decent pedigree. The 24-year-old hitman was snapped up by manager Lee Johnson on transfer deadline day after spending 18 months in league two with Dagenham and Redbridge, scoring 14 goals in 46 games.

But Murphy spent his formative years up to age 21 learning his trade with Arsenal.

Newcastle United fan Murphy never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners, but did play alongside the likes of Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin and Kieran Gibbs.

Murphy already knew new team-mates Danny Philliskirk and Jacob Mellis after playing against them when they were at Chelsea. Murphy recalls Arsenal says with pride

He said: “Just going into training every day, the standard was so high. The coaching was brilliant, and being involved in that environment every day from the age of 16 was great.”

“There were days when we were lucky enough to train with the first team too, and that was just another world to be honest.”

Murphy – who made his Athletic debut as a late substitute on Saturday at Scunthorpe – hopes some of that experience pays off as he begins an eager new chapter with Athletic.

“All the players here are hungry and ambitious,” he said, “and we are in a great spot at the moment.

“We’re pushing for the play-offs and I’m hoping I can help. That’s definitely the aim.

“But I want to play in the Championship with Oldham. Hopefully we can make a good go of reaching the play-offs from here.”