Jacob Murphy has paid tribute to the Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk after reviving his career at Newcastle United.
Murphy spent the bulk of last season working under Monk while on loan from Newcastle.
And despite a slow start to his Wednesday spell, the 25-year-old ended it with 15 goals or assists from 39 outings.
Monk made no secret of his desire to bring back Murphy for the new campaign.
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But the 41-year-old’s Newcastle counterpart – and Owls predecessor – Steve Bruce took a shine to the returning £12 million player in pre-season and chose to keep him around.
Murphy has since appeared on five occasions for the Magpies and scored or assisted three goals, including the equaliser at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
The Norwich City product’s goal came from a direct free-kick that caught out the Wolves’ ‘keeper Rui Patricio.
And, according to Murphy, it was the result of the previous night’s hotel-room research.
“It (the research) was something I started doing a lot more last season when I was away on loan,” Murphy told NUFC TV.
“Analysing the opposition into a lot of detail and analysing my own game. I have looked at the top players in my position and tried to add bits from their game into mine.
“Doing this analysis and this research has been highly beneficial as I have been able to add aspects into my game that has ultimately made me a better player.
“The research is a massive part of what I do now.
“The harder you work, the more success you are going to get. It is as simple as that. There is no rocket science behind it.
“If you work hard you will get the rewards. My discipline has come on a lot and I am starving for success.
“Doing little things like that are going to improve me.”
And Murphy concluded: “The best version of myself is a confident Jacob.
“I am really thankful to Garry Monk for the work he did for me last season.”
One wonders how many of Wednesday’s current group of players feel as positively about Monk.
In other news: Wednesday’s weird night continued as Owls player’s account posted then deleted worrying tweet
