A QUESTION was aired on social media on Sunday evening that few Newcastle United supporters would have envisaged being raised a year-and-a-half on from the club’s Saudi Arabian takeover. What’s the point in being the richest club in the world if you can turn Jacob Murphy into a world-beater for nothing anyway? As far as problems go, it’s not a bad one to have.

Eddie Howe has achieved some remarkable acts of footballing alchemy during his Tyneside tenure. Transforming Joelinton from a misfiring figure of fun into one of the most dynamic central midfielders in Europe. Developing Miguel Almiron from a forward who rarely looked like scoring into a multiple Goal of the Season contender. But of all Howe’s feats, arguably the most impressive is the switch he has overseen in Murphy.

Signed in the summer of 2017 in an attempt to help Newcastle reestablish themselves in the top-flight following their promotion from the Championship, Murphy felt like a remnant from a different era when Howe walked into St James’ Park.

His best season as a Newcastle player had probably come when he was back in the Championship, on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, and while he went into the current campaign with more than 100 senior appearances in a black-and-white shirt under his belt, the fact that the vast majority had seen him enter the field as a substitute spoke volumes for his position in the pecking order.

His chances of making a meaningful impact as Howe sought to push the Magpies into the top half of the table appeared slight, and by the start of March, he had only made five Premier League starts, such was his inability to force his way into the first-team picture.

Howe always sensed something in him though, so when Almiron became unavailable through injury and a gap opened up on the right of Newcastle’s attack, the Magpies head coach did not hesitate to throw Murphy into the fray. Suffice to say, the 28-year-old has not looked back.

Since returning to the starting line-up for last month’s home game with Wolves, Murphy has now started seven matches in a row, a sequence that culminated in Sunday’s remarkable 6-1 thrashing of Spurs, which saw him score two goals in the opening ten minutes.

In his seven-game run, he has delivered a sequence of telling crosses, and he now boasts two assists for the season to go along with his three goals. Almiron is back fit, but despite his exploits in the first half of the campaign, the Paraguayan finds himself unable to get back into the side. For now, Murphy is the established first choice on the right-hand side.

“Jacob has delivered a lot in terms of helping the team in these last few games,” said Howe, who has developed a happy knack of resurrecting seemingly dormant careers. “I’m delighted he’s getting the recognition that his recent performances deserve.

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“The only thing that was really missing was goals, but they’re coming now. Every attacking player needs that in their game, they need goals, they need output.

“Jacob produced two really good finishes (against Spurs) - the first one was a tight angle, the second one was an absolutely brilliant finish from range. His all-round game, again, was of the highest level, so I’m really pleased for him.”

So, what has changed in the last few months? Given that he joined Newcastle almost six years ago, Murphy is hardly an unknown quantity. Rafael Benitez and Steve Bruce both struggled to get the best out of him, although their cause was perhaps not helped by their reluctance to play him in an advanced attacking position.

The Northern Echo: Jacob Murphy wins the ball during Newcastle's victory at Nottingham ForestJacob Murphy wins the ball during Newcastle's victory at Nottingham Forest (Image: PA)

At various stages of his Newcastle career, Murphy has played as a right-back, right wing-back and right midfielder, with his differing responsibilities perhaps sending out mixed messages in terms of what was expected of him on the field.

Howe has stripped things back, restoring Murphy to the explicitly attacking role he first performed when he was breaking through and making his name at Norwich City. On the evidence of the last couple of months, it is a move that has helped elevate the level of his performances dramatically.

“I think his game has come on,” said Howe. “Maybe for Jacob, a consistency of position has helped. Because he’s so good in various roles, sometimes that’s made it difficult for him to really get his teeth into what areas of his game he needs to work on.

“That’s always difficult for any player, if you’re constantly changing. Maybe having that settled position off the right has made him blossom. He’s a really hard worker behind the scenes. He’s really diligent, and always wanting to do extra. He’s been able to identify the areas he’s needed to improve, and I think he’s really benefited from that.”

As a result, when Newcastle head to Goodison Park on Thursday night to take on Everton, there is every chance Murphy will be stationed on the right of the front three with an instruction to get at opposition left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko.

With another home game coming up against Southampton on Sunday, Howe might feel the need to mix and match a bit over the next few days. As a result, there is a chance Almiron could be restored to the team at some stage. For now, though, it is Murphy’s shirt to lose, a scenario that would have looked unlikely even as recently as a couple of months ago.

“I don’t think Jacob’s done a lot wrong since he’s come into the team,” said Howe. “In fact, I think he’s done a lot right. It’s then very difficult to justify leaving him out, as well as Miggy (Almiron) has done this season for us. It’s a tough call, but they’re the decisions I want.”