‘Big, noisy crowds something I missed’: In-form winger on Portsmouth appeal as Oxford United arrival eyes continuing attacking threat at QPR
Josh Murphy highlighted the big appeal at Pompey as he targeted continuing his attacking threat.
The in-form Blues winger has revealed the fervent matchday at Fratton Park and the prospect of playing in front of packed home crowds this season, was the key attraction behind his move to PO4.
Pompey fended off interest from a number of Championship sides and the offer of a new deal at Oxford United to bring in the 29-year-old this summer.
Murphy looked strong in pre-season before an ankle injury aborted his start to the new term, but the former Cardiff City man has picked up from where he left on his return.
Pompey fans are now seeing why John Mousinho made bringing in his former team-mate a priority, with there optimism about what he can bring to the table moving forward.
Murphy has now explained what the appeal was of making the move to the south coast from the Kassam Stadium, with his visit last season in Oxford colours significant.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Essential EFL podcast, Murphy said: ‘We played them at the end of last season and the atmosphere of the game, that was something I’d probably missed and it was something I thrived off.
‘Playing in front of a big, noisy crowds was just exciting and it’s something I wanted to do. So coming here was a really good fit.
‘I’m hungry to be successful and I’m hungry to put in my best performances week in, week out and excite the fans.
‘I want to get the goals and assists the team needs and I’m always striving each day to get better and to effectively show how good I can be.
There’s little doubt Murphy has been the standout performer of late, amid an ongoing difficult start to life in the second tier for Pompey
That’s returned two assists, with the Londoner the only player to emerge with a modicum of credit from the battering at Stoke.
That was then followed up with a man-of-the-match performance against his former side Oxford before the international break.
More of the same is now the target ahead of QPR, before Murphy returns to former club Cardiff next Tuesday.
He added: ‘I’ve got a personal goals and assists tally, it’s just trying to be as attacking as I can.
‘As long as I’m attacking as much as I can I think everything else will follow.
‘I’m just going to try to be the best I can be - and hopefully that rubs off on the team.’