Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d take former Blues striker Daryl Murphy back to Sunderland if he were currently the manager of the Black Cats.

The Wearsiders replaced their North-East rivals Newcastle in the Championship this summer, Murphy having helped the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first attempt.

The 34-year-old, who was brought to the Stadium of Light by McCarthy from his hometown club Waterford United in 2005 and spent five years as a Sunderland player, has been made available by Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez.

Asked whether he was still looking for a striker to replace the Irish international, who left Portman Road in a £3 million deal last August, McCarthy said: “We all want a Daryl Murphy replacement of 27 goals. He’s been allowed to go out on loan, of course.”

Quizzed on whether there is a chance of Murphy himself returning to Town, he added: “If they want full recovery of his wages then, no.

"If I was the new Sunderland manager I’d take him there because he’s living in the North-East and I just think he’s a very good Championship player.

“Somebody of that ilk, somebody with that kind of money to be able to pay wages will be able to do it.

"And I think that’s where he’ll end up, at a club that will be able to command that sort of money.”

TWTD understands that Murphy could end up at his third North-East club with Middlesbrough keen to sign him on a season-long loan.

Photo: Action Images

Pumpee1980 added 20:42 - Jun 26 Murphy obviously past it then!
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osborne added 22:14 - Jun 26 I think it was a good decision to sell him when we did. Put in a good shift for us though.
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fergalsharkey added 06:58 - Jun 27 Oh yeah cos we re invested the 3 mill didnt we?? Why was it a good idea? What did the football side of the club gain from it? Feck all.
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osborne added 07:03 - Jun 27 It was a good idea because it was a good price for a player nearing the end of his career. It was a good idea because he wanted to go. I wasn't commenting on who and when the money was used.
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fussysnake added 12:10 - Jun 27 Time to move on...
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