Newcastle United's newest talent gets off to ideal start in Under-21 win

Newcastle United's most exciting new talent has wasted no time showcasing his ability on Tyneside with a debut goal for the Under-21's on Wednesday afternoon. Alex Murphy, 18, only arrived at the club earlier this month after a deal was agreed with Irish second-tier side Galway United earlier this summer.

Murphy started on the bench as Newcastle's youngsters took on Blackburn's youth team in Lancashire but was introduced midway through the first-half to replace the injured Remi Savage. The young Magpies ran out 3-1 winners with Murphy finding the net in the second-half.

His goal, along with first-half strikes from Kyle Crossley and Santiago Munoz, helped Elliott Dickman's side to an impressive pre-season win. Matty Longstaff and Jay Turner-Cooke both started from the outset, while ex-Spurs youngster Jordan Hackett also made his debut at the back.

Murphy is clearly enjoying a rich vein of form after he also said goodbye to fellow Galway team-mates and fans in fine style earlier this month. The teenager had a hand in two second-half goals during his final game for the club as he grabbed an assist in the 67th-minute with a well-timed cross before helping Galway to their third moments later.

Murphy left the field in the 86th-minute to a standing ovation from the crowd before picking up Galway's Young Player of the Month award for June after the full-time whistle. His arrival is seen as a huge coup for the club after United pipped other suitors to his signature earlier this year.

"We are very pleased to have secured a deal to bring Alex to Newcastle United," Academy manager Steve Harper said earlier this summer. "He is a very promising young player who has attracted a lot of attention from clubs. It is a real coup for our