'Most clubs in the Championship” - Oxford United, Josh Murphy dilemma weighed up amid Portsmouth form | OneFootball

Josh Murphy would still be an asset for Oxford United after he opted to join Portsmouth in the summer.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Oxford United look like they would have still have benefited from keeping Josh Murphy this season, even though they look on course to stay in the Championship.

It has been a hectic return to the second tier for the U’s, with Des Buckingham, the man who led the club to promotion, having been replaced by Gary Rowett midway through the season.

Despite a six-game winless run, which includes successive defeats, Oxford are in a strong position as they look to preserve their Championship status.

And, they have done that without Murphy, the man who scored the goals at Wembley that secured promotion back in May.

Josh Murphy, Oxford United claim issued amid superb Portsmouth form

With his deal expiring after the play-off final, Oxford were always going to find it difficult to keep Murphy, although it was perhaps a surprise that he signed for Pompey, another newly-promoted side.

He has shone at Fratton Park as well, scoring six goals and registering nine assists, as they sit one point and one place above Murphy’s former club in the table.

To their credit, Oxford have coped well without the 30-year-old, with Siriki Dembele, Przemyslaw Placheta and Tyler Goodrham among the attacking options available to Rowett.

Yet, when asked by FLW whether Murphy would still get in this Oxford XI, fan pundit Jack Shoemark was adamant he would not only get in their side, but many other Championship rivals.

“Ultimately, I think he would get into the XI, I think that’s always been the case," Jack told FLW.

"Obviously, the club battled hard to keep him in the summer, but the package offered by Portsmouth worked for him, whether it was wages, location, length of contract.

“So, I don’t think there’s any surprise to see him doing well now he has got his confidence back.

"He has spoken about how Oxford helped him get his love for the game back, even though it was a very slow first season for him as we went from Karl Robinson to Liam Manning, with Manning saying he could leave the club, before he really excelled under Des Buckingham in the second half of last season, including scoring the goals at Wembley that got us promoted.

“I think most clubs in the Championship would take a fully-fit Murphy who has got confidence. It’s not particularly surprising to see him doing well.

"The board wanted to keep him, the previous manager wanted to keep him, so we know he is a good player, and I think he would start in our team at the moment.

“Placheta, Dembele and Goodrham have all blown a bit hot and cold. They’ve all had their own little spells of playing well, with a few goals here and there, but they haven’t been as consistent as Murphy has been for Portsmouth.

“They’re all different wingers to Murphy, who likes to get his head down, beat his man and cross the ball, whereas the others like to cut inside and shoot more.

“The most comparable player to Murphy in Oxford’s squad is Stan Mills, who we signed in January. We’ve already seen in a couple of sub appearances that he wants to take his man on and get a cross in.

“Perhaps longer term, Mills is the better asset, simply because of his age, and longer-term will see Oxford get a fee if he can play with confidence, which is such an important thing for a winger.