EFL expert’s Josh Murphy claim as Portsmouth’s star man makes soaring return
The EFL experts at Not The Top 20 have been waxing lyrical about Pompey’s returning star man’s Championship impact.
Josh Murphy quality will potentially bring 10 goals to one of his Pompey team-mates next season.
That’s the claim after the Blues star man’s stunning late cameo at Stoke City served up a reminder of the winger’s continuing importance to his side’s attacking play.
EFL expert: ‘Ten goals a season just from Murphy's quality’
Murphy has made a surprise late-season to the fray, with his season written off after suffering a fractured metatarsal which had kept him sidelined since December.
The 31-year-old returned last week at Coventry, before turning the game on its head when being introduced in the 62nd minute at the bet365 Stadium.
The reigning player of the season immediately put in a delicious assist for Adrian Segecic’s second goal, as he went on to complete a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory.
That arrived amid a stream of tantalising crosses from the left, which reminded Pompey fans what they had been missing from the star of last season.
Murphy’s efforts were recognised by EFL experts, Not The Top 20, with host Ali Maxwell believing such deliveries benefit Pompey’s right winger who can arrive on the other end of his teasing deliveries.
Speaking in their latest podcast, Maxwell said: ‘Josh Murphy was back, fit and shock horror getting an assist for Segecic's second goal with a trademark ball across.
‘I was reminding myself how good Josh Murphy was by watching all of his assists from the last two seasons.
‘If you're the right-winger playing on the team that Josh Murphy plays for you score 10 goals a season just from Murphy's quality, which is quite nice.
‘Sorba Thomas got the assist for Stokes' goal here, which I just wanted to mention that he has a double-double, double figures goals and assist this season, the only player in the Championship.’
Meanwhile the praise for Pompey’s standout figures at Stoke continued, with Segecic unsurprisingly earning plaudits for his first triple salvo in English football.
The Croatia under-21 international showcased the strength of his finishing, which has been a recurring feature of the Blues top scorer’s 10 goals this season.
Maxwell added: ‘Segecic score a hat-trick for Pompey, all with his left peg. The second or third one, particularly lovely.
‘He's so short, Segecic, but hits the ball with such power, it makes me think his foot's reinforced with steel.
‘They brought out that cricket bat back in the day. I think it was called the Mongoose, and it had something special in there, which very quickly got outlawed. It wasn't allowed. That's what Segecic has got in his left foot.
‘That was one of five hat-tricks scored in the EFL over the weekend.’