DARYL MURPHY thinks Newcastle United have the firepower to reach the Premier League and claims his experience of life in the Championship could prove crucial.

The Republic of Ireland international made his debut for the Magpies on Tuesday when they set up an EFL Cup date with Preston next month by defeating Wolves.

A cup run is a nice distraction for Newcastle but the priority for Rafael Benitez’s men is to secure an immediate return to the top-flight.

Last Saturday’s defeat to Wolves in the league at St James’ Park was a reminder of how difficult it can be to go on a winning run in the second tier.

That is something Murphy, who has spent the majority of his career at that level having played for Sunderland and Ipswich, is used to and he will be doing his best to offer up advice and guidance to anyone who needs it after his move to Tyneside.

“I hope I can,” he said. “I’ve been in this league quite a while and it’s tough. You saw that against Wolves on Saturday. You wouldn’t have expected us to get beaten at home but that’s the league for you.

“It’s a case of not panicking. We know the squad of players we have and you need to just get a bit of momentum. It was important we won on Tuesday just to get that winning mentality back.”

Newcastle head to Aston Villa, another side expected to do well this season, tomorrow and Murphy does not know if he will be retained in the starting line-up.

It will be difficult for him to hold down a shirt after his £3m switch because of the competition he faces from Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez.

Murphy said: “We’ve different types of strikers in the team and I’m probably seen more as a target-man who can hold the ball up and get other people involved in the game.

“Mitro’s probably quite similar and Gayle is a short, sharp, quick player. We all have different attributes but I think that’s good because in this league the games come thick and fast and every week is different opposition. The manager has a bit of a headache in choosing his team.

“But I definitely know I can score goals at this level in this team, you saw some of the balls they were putting in on Tuesday night for us. It’s a dream for a striker really because you know it’s coming, it’s just a case of being on the move and trying to read where the ball’s going. You’re always going to get chances and hopefully score goals.”

Murphy has had to be patient since his move back to the North-East from Ipswich but after getting his first start in the EFL Cup he is hungry for more.

The 33-year-old said: “It felt comfortable coming into the side. The gaffer’s been patient with me and I’ve been training with the lads day in, day out, so I’m well used to how they play now.

“I’m just looking forward to the next few games. He just told me to be patient and I’d get my chance. The team’s been flying so I knew it wasn’t a case of coming here and just playing immediately, I knew it wasn’t going to be like that because there’s some very good players here who are all battling for positions. It was a case of just being patient and waiting for a chance.

“You want your first touch to be good and you just ease into the game, really. I’m disappointed I didn’t score with a header and a chance in the second half that was blocked and the referee gave a goal kick.

“I had a few chances but that’s what you get when you play with lads like this, wingers who are going to put in crosses so you have to get in the box. I’m disappointed I didn’t score but overall it was a good debut.”