Irish ace Alex Murphy eager to prove Premier League readiness during Bolton Wanderers loan spell

ALEX MURPHY hopes to use his time in League One to show he is ready for the Premier League.

Murphy, 20, has joined Bolton Wanderers on loan until the rest of the season having not featured for Newcastle United since April, when he made his second first-team appearance.

And the ex-Galway United youngster believes time with the Trotters will show that he has come of age.

Murphy said: “I’ve been around the first team at Newcastle for maybe a year and a bit now, so I’ve learned a lot from them and training with the first team.

“It’s been great, but I think finally now is the right time to go out and play first-team minutes because that’s where you prove yourself, against men in this league.

“I think I’ll get tested in this league, which is what I want.

“I want to show people that I’m ready for the test and ready to go back to Newcastle and play but I want to do my best here and show the fans that.

“I’m here for the moment and what I can do for the rest of this season. It’s a massive club which should definitely be at least in the Championship, if not the Prem.

“I think that’s the aim. There’s pressure but I think we’ll enjoy that pressure.”

Murphy clocked up 32 first-team games for the Tribesmen before joining Newcastle in July 2022 and Bolton boss Ian Evatt said: “He’s a young player we have tracked for a long time.

“He’s been in and around Newcastle’s squad and been on the bench a lot.

“He’s an international footballer who will give us flexibility, who can play centre-back, wing-back or full-back with an eye on us having the option to potentially change shape in the future.