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26th Sep 2017

Daryl Murphy has hit serious, serious form at the perfect time

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Niall McIntyre

There’s no stopping that man.

Imagine where Nottingham Forest would be if they didn’t have Daryl Murphy. They’re already struggling, languishing in 12th position in the Championship table, but that’s nothing to do with their Dynamic Déise striker.

Murphy got his season off to a flier, notching his first goal in their Championship campaign in their second game against Bradford, and he hasn’t looked back since.

The 34-year-old has made 10 Championship appearances so far for the Reds, and has scored in six of them, proving a thorn in opposition defences throughout.

Here’s who he has goaled against.

  • 1 Goal Vs. Bradford.
  • 1 goal Vs. Barnsley.
  • 1 goal Vs. Middlesbourough.
  • 1 goal Vs. Sunderland.
  • 1 goal Vs. Aston Villa.
  • 1 goal Vs. Fulham.

Murphy scored Forest’s only goal against Fulham on Tuesday night, and it was the most classic Daryl Murphy of all time, a bullet header across the goalkeeper.

Forest went on to lose the game 3-1 as their struggles continue.

He was named in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad on Tuesday, and his chances of being involved in these two crucial ties surely have to be considered by Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

Ireland host Moldova at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, October 6 and will travel to Cardiff to take on Wales the following Monday.

They will more than likely need six points to have any chance of qualifying for Russia, and after a disappointing pair of loss against Serbia and Wales, and with Jon Walters ruled out, Murphy’s run of form has come at just the right time.

With Robbie Brady and James McClean suspended, and Scott Hogan a permanant sub at Villa, Murphy can no longer be ignored.

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