‘Astonishing’: EFL pundits make huge Portsmouth call after former Norwich City and Cardiff City winger’s outstanding season

That’s the huge call made by Ryan Dilks from the Second Tier Podcast, who believes the 30-year-old winger warranted a spot in the Championship Team of the Season.

The outstanding Blues forward was a star man during his maiden campaign at Fratton Park, playing a key role in helping John Mousinho’s men stay clear from the relegation battle.

After arriving from Oxford United in June 2024 on a free transfer, Murphy showed scintillating form - scoring seven goals and registering 14 assists.

Only Leeds United’s Joel Piroe and Manor Saloman, Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill and Norwich City’s Borja Sainz have more goal contributions than Pompey’s Player of the Season with 21.

Despite a dazzling campaign on the south coast, the former Cardiff City talent was overlooked for a place in the Championship’s Team of the Season, with the Canaries forward instead given the accolade as the division’s best left-winger.

But Murphy’s importance for the Blues has been recognised by the Second Tier Pod, who have included the 30-year-old in their side of the season.

In fact, Dilks believes Mousinho’s men could’ve faced the drop if they hand’t signed the winger last summer.

Speaking on the latest episode, he said: ‘Our final player in our team of the season and is probably our most controversial one we’ll include. We’ve gone with Josh Murphy at Portsmouth (at left-wing).

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‘It’s one which may raise a few eyebrows amongst listeners but he’s been an absolute revelation. He was signed on a free transfer from Oxford United in the summer, not a huge amount of expectation, he’s not a young lad anymore either and he’s finished with the joint-most assists in the Championship with 14 and scored seven goals.

‘Only five players have more goal contributions than him this season and people will be listening and wondering why we didn’t go with one of those players who have got more goal contributions than him on the left-hand side.

‘The difference for me is that Murphy has been doing this at Portsmouth. People will be saying Borja Sainz or Gus Hamer, who can also play there but Josh Murphy has not been surrounded by players who could be playing in the Premier League.

‘If it wasn’t for his contributions this season, I believe Portsmouth would have likely gone down because he’s been such a live wire on the left-hand side for Pompey from the get go.’

Pompey’s Josh Murphy given recognition after dazzling Championship campaign

Justin Peach echoes his co-host’s call on Murphy’s importance but insisted he’s been left with egg on his face after believing the Pompey ace would flop at Fratton Park this season.

He said: ‘If you were to believe me, this was a terrible signing. That’s what I was saying last summer and I’ve got egg on my face. That’s my worst take to be honest.

‘I can’t begin to describe how important he’s been. The point I’ve repeatedly made about Josh Murphy is Colby Bishop was unavailable for the first partition of the campaign with his surgery in the summer and Murphy had to step up, which he did. Then Callum Lang was injured and once again Murphy stepped up.

‘The attacking quality which Pompey could possibly have has not been available for the whole season but Murphy has had to step up on various occasions this year. You look at the type of goals he scores as well, the 30-yard daisy cutter he scored against Preston and there are certain goals which stick out in your mind. The assists which he’s put together too.

‘A player who played League One football last season, who only had a very good flurry of games towards the end of last season, has stepped up into the Championship and had one of the best campaigns out of wingers this season. It’s just an astonishing level.

‘The important point here is that he’s been doing it for Portsmouth. He’s not been doing it for Leeds, where he’s going to get fed balls. They’ve (Pompey) got to do a little bit to earn those opportunities and that’s why Josh Murphy is in this team.’

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