‘The Right Time to Leave’ – Newcastle United Star Opens Up After Eddie Howe Talks

Alex Murphy has expressed confidence that his loan move away from Newcastle United was made at the right time.

The 20-year-old has had limited involvement this season, featuring only as an unused substitute during the 2024/25 campaign.

With Lewis Hall securing the starting left-back position and Matt Targett as backup, Murphy has struggled to break into the squad.

Speaking after joining Bolton Wanderers on loan, Murphy explained: “I’ve been part of Newcastle’s first-team setup for over a year now, gaining valuable experience and learning a lot from training with them.

However, I feel this is the right moment to seek first-team minutes.

It’s essential to test myself in competitive matches against experienced players, and I’m thrilled to have this opportunity here at Bolton.

“This is a significant step for me—to join a club like Bolton and demonstrate my abilities for the rest of the season.

My goal is to prove I’m ready to compete in the Premier League when I return.”

Murphy made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 win over Chelsea last season and subsequently signed a long-term contract with Newcastle.

He initially joined the club from Galway United in 2022.

Bolton manager Ian Evatt expressed his excitement about the signing, saying: “Alex is a young talent we’ve been monitoring for a while.

He’s been on Newcastle’s bench regularly and is also an international player.

His versatility allows him to play as a centre-back, wing-back, or full-back, which gives us tactical flexibility to potentially adjust our formation.

“We’re delighted to have him here. We see great potential in Alex and believe he can develop into an excellent player.

He’ll bring valuable options to our squad as we move forward.”

Murphy now has the chance to gain crucial first-team experience at Bolton while aiming to prove he is ready for a future in the Premier League.