Rhys Murphy has this week returned to Oldham Athletic after his impressive loan spell away at Crawley Town.
The striker signed for Latics on last January’s deadline day but was given little opportunity to impress. Murphy netted his first for the club in this season’s 5-1 home defeat to Peterborough United but quickly found himself farmed out on loan to League Two side Crawley Town.
With a run of games in a side playing to his strengths, the Irishman bagged nine goals in 15 games in the kind of form which persuaded Lee Johnson to sign him almost a year ago.
While Murphy has been in the form of his life, goals have been somewhat of a problem for those wearing the blue of Oldham and it will be hoped that the striker can replicate his loan form for his parent club in what is a vital Christmas period.
Having stolen a point with a last minute equaliser away at Coventry City last week, David Dunn’s side travel to Blackpool on Boxing Day in another must-not-lose fixture.
I, along with many other fans I’m sure, am delighted to see Murphy back at Oldham. The lad clearly has potential and has proven his worth at both Dagenham and Redbridge and now Crawley Town.
While both a division below in League Two, I fully expect him to return to Boundary Park and prove he can do it in England’s third tier too. However for this to be the case, David Dunn must realise that Murphy is not the target man that previous managers have hoped for he and must play him in an front two.
Indeed with Jake Cassidy back from injury, there is the potential for an exciting and much needed strike-partnership to blossom.
It’s pretty embarrassing when the your club’s top scorer has scored 90% of his goals for another team and it’s been disheartening watching Latics draw blanks while Murphy fires them in elsewhere. Now he’s back, he must be used correctly and, if he is, he may well be like a new signing.
