“Did not shrink a tackle”- 8/10 Newcastle man deliver promising performance in Qarabag win he was good as Tonali

Newcastle United sealed a 3-2 victory over Qarabag at St James’ Park, completing a dominant 9-3 aggregate triumph to eliminate the Azerbaijani champions from the UEFA Champions League.

Goals from Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Sven Botman ensured the Magpies progressed comfortably into the last 16 — reaching that stage of the competition for the first time.

Much of the hard work had already been done in the first leg, allowing Eddie Howe to rotate his squad. With the Premier League run-in fast approaching, Howe rested several regular starters and handed opportunities to fringe players.

First-choice left-back Lewis Hall was left out of the starting XI, with 21-year-old Alex Murphy drafted in. Having spent much of the season on the bench, Murphy finally got his opportunity — and he made the most of it.

The young defender impressed defensively, winning three of his four ground duels and two of his three aerial battles. He also registered two interceptions, two clearances, five recoveries and seven defensive actions overall.

Going forward, Murphy contributed 13 carries and created one key pass. While Tonali grabbed the headlines, Murphy’s performance was equally assured.

Newcastle writer Lee Ryder rated him 8/10, praising his patience and commitment, noting that he “stuck to his task and did not shirk a tackle.”

With Hall having dealt with injury issues this season, Murphy has demonstrated he is capable cover for the England international.

However, opportunities may remain limited in the short term. Newcastle face a demanding run of fixtures, and with Manchester City visiting in the FA Cup, Howe could prefer the experience of Hall.

Murphy, who joined Newcastle from Galway United in May 2022, will be hoping to cement his place as reliable backup this season before pushing for a bigger role next term.

Next up in Europe, Newcastle will face either or in the Champions League Round of 16.