Daryl's Debut Delight

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Daryl Murphy was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet in the 2-0 EFL Cup win over Wolves on Tuesday night - but expressed his delight at finally making his Newcastle United debut.

The 33-year-old started for the Magpies, making his first appearance since his move from Ipswich Town last month.

Goals from Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran booked United's place in the last 16 at the expense of Walter Zenga's men, while Republic of Ireland international Murphy completed the full 90 minutes.

And afterwards, he told nufc.co.uk that he had been "itching to go" since arriving from Portman Road.

"It was nice to get the start, and to start at home. It was good to get the full 90 minutes, get the win and keep a clean sheet - the only thing I'm disappointed with is that I didn't score, but that'll come," he said.

"It was a good crowd here tonight, and I've been itching to go since I signed, to be honest. But I knew I had to be patient and I knew I'd get a chance at some stage, so I just had to be ready."

Murphy almost opened his account for the club late on, but he saw his effort deflected over the crossbar as United sought a third.

But he believes that, with Newcastle's name now in the hat for the fourth round, his side have the platform on which they could build on in the EFL Cup this season.

"The result is the main thing, and it's what we wanted. We know we can play a lot better. We could have had more, but we're happy with the win and the clean sheet," said Murphy.

"We know what happened at the weekend, and we just wanted to get back to winning ways really. I think it's important in any game we play, whether it's the cup or the league, that you continue the momentum, and thankfully we won tonight.

"It was important (to win after Saturday's league defeat), but I've been in this league long enough to know that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. This league is just mad - it was a little blip, and it was important that we got back to winning ways.

"This is a chance for us. We've got a big squad, so we can chop and change players as the gaffer sees fit. A cup run would be nice, and we need to keep that momentum going."

Murphy will continue to compete with the likes of Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic for a place in Rafa Benitez's side, with a Sky Bet Championship trip to Aston Villa next up on Saturday evening.

And the frontman says he's settled in well on Tyneside, and is relishing the challenge of retaining his place in the team.

"It's been great. I knew a few of the lads when I came in anyway, which always helps, but the other lads have been brilliant with me and have helped me settle in. I've enjoyed every minute of it so far," said Murphy.

"I knew it was a big challenge when I signed here, but that's what you need. You need something to strive towards and in my case I want to play, so I need to show the manager when I get a chance that I can do what he wants me to do.

"We've got great competition for places and any of the lads could play, and it's good for the squad that we've got that. You need that, and you know you're going in the right direction if you have everyone pulling in the same way."

On the clash with Villa this weekend, he added: "We can go there with confidence. They'll be good, we know that, and they're at home, but I think we just need to play our football.

"We create a lot of chances in games, so we just need to take them when they come along, but it'll be tough."