Daryl Murphy reveals the thinking behind his decision to leave Ipswich and join Newcastle

Daryl Murphy has revealed why he "couldn't say no" to Newcastle United.
Daryl MurphyDaryl Murphy
Daryl Murphy

The experienced striker joined the club in the summer from this afternoon's opponents Ipswich Town.

Murphy, 33, signed a two-year deal at St James's Park.

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And the former Sunderland player says he couldn't turn down the challenge offered to him by Rafa Benitez.

"I think I've said in the past that it was a 'no-brainer'," Murphy told the matchday programme. "I didn't mean it in that context, that I wanted to go and it was a no-brainer.

"It was just the fact that a club of Newcastle's size, that I couldn't say no – it was as simple as that.

"As good as I had it at Ipswich, a change was probably in my best interests at that time. I was there for quite a number of seasons and I wasn't getting any younger.

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"So it was just a case of wanting to try something new, and with a club like Newcastle and the players they have, I knew they'd be pushing for promotion.

"You want to challenge yourself. I mean, I probably don't have that many years left, and I want to experience challenging in the team.

"I know it's going to be hard to get in the team, but that's the challenge I have now.

"With the manager here and everything that goes with it, it was about the challenge for me to get into this team."

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Murphy – who has made just one appearance for far this season for United – won't be involved this afternoon because of a calf problem.

"As soon as I get back (from injury), then it's a case of getting my head down and trying to get into the team," said the Republic of Ireland international, who went to Euro 2016 in the summer.

Murphy spent five years at Sunderland earlier in his career.