The Magpies’ miserable league form continued at the weekend as a 3-2 defeat to Everton condemned them to a third successive home defeat in the competition for the first time in five years.
Newcastle get an immediate chance to put things right when they host Manchester United at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, but they head into the midweek round of fixtures sitting in 13th position.
If, as looks likely, England’s UEFA coefficient means five Premier League clubs will qualify for next season’s Champions League, there is a good chance that an eighth-place finish will be good enough to secure European football of some description next term.
At the moment, Newcastle are four points behind eighth-placed Everton, and with just ten more league games to play, Murphy accepts the clock is ticking.
“Time isn’t on our side right now,” admitted the winger, who scored Newcastle’s second goal on Saturday. “We know we’re going to have to put a solid run of games together to claw back those European slots. But we can’t keep waiting for the next game to try and put things right.
“We have actually been on a pretty decent run of form of late, so to lose [to Everton] is not ideal. But we are showing signs of getting back to the team that we know that we are.”
Newcastle have impressed in the cup competitions this season, reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, setting up an FA Cup fifth-round game against Manchester City and making it all the way to the last four of the Carabao Cup before losing to City. Their league form has been markedly inferior, though, with every step forward being followed by an immediate step back.
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Despite now being in March, it still feels as though Newcastle’s team is a work in progress following last summer’s changes. What is Nick Woltemade’s best position? Is Anthony Gordon now a striker? What about Yoane Wissa? And who should play out wide?
There are lots of unanswered questions, with Murphy claiming a lack of training time has restricted Eddie Howe’s ability to develop a new-look team.
“Usually, we have that training time where we can iron things out,” he said. “But we’re having to try and find solutions in-game, which is difficult. Last year, whenever we faced a challenge, we had a whole week to find an outcome that worked for everyone, but at the moment, we kind of have 90 minutes to find that solution and make it work. It is always going to be difficult, but the lads are trying the best they can.
“In the second half [against Everton], we sustained pressure and that’s in the league, that’s probably been the best that we’ve pinned a team in for quite a while. So, like I say about in-game training, I’m taking confidence from that and I’ll be pushing that with the boys, that we’ve done some really good things in that spell.
“We were calm, we were composed, we were finding the correct passes. We’re finding solutions and we just have to keep working at it because nothing’s going to change between now and the end of the season. This is what it is, we’ve got to make it work, and everyone’s willing to put that work in.”
Murphy spent part of Saturday’s game playing at right-back, deputising for Kieran Trippier in the continued absence of the injured Tino Livramento.
Livramento should be able to return in the next couple of weeks, which will improve Newcastle’s options in the defensive positions, but Murphy is happy to slot in wherever needed, even if that means playing in the back four.
“I enjoy playing wherever on the pitch,” said the 31-year-old, who was recently promoted to a place in Newcastle’s leadership group. “I’m comfortable at right-back and feel I can add a different dimension to our attack.
“It was nice to be put there. The manager shows trust in me putting me at right-back. There’s a lot of games, so we have to keep sharing the minutes and whoever is called upon, they have to deliver.”
Having come off the bench at the weekend, Murphy will hope to be back in the starting line-up on Wednesday as Newcastle take on a Manchester United side that are unbeaten in their last seven matches under Tynesider Michael Carrick.
“You know what 8pm kick-offs are like at St. James’ when a big team comes here,” said Murphy. “Players and fans alike, everyone’s going to be up for it. We have to put our best foot forward and we have to attack the game. It’s a big challenge on Wednesday, but a good opportunity for us to put our best foot forward.”