WANDERERS have completed the signing of Newcastle United defender Alex Murphy on loan for the rest of the season.

The 20-year-old Irish defender has already featured in the Premier League for the Magpies and been a regular around Eddie Howe’s squad this season.

Signed from Galway United in July 2022 for an initial fee of £90,000, Murphy can play as a centre-half or as a left-back and could give Bolton the option to play a back four, if needed.

He trained with Wanderers this morning and could now be included in the squad to face Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.

Wanderers assistant manager Stephen Crainey took the pre-match press conference, and believes Murphy can be a quality addition to the squad.

“We have been chasing him for a while, tried to get him in during pre-season as well but couldn’t do it at that point,” he said.

“He brings competition to that left side, a good young player and he’s highly thought of at Newcastle, so hopefully he can come in and hit the ground running.

“Other players who have come to the club on loan from Premier League clubs have done well, so hopefully that can be the case with Alex.

“It’s healthy competition and we want players to come in and perform, so he will add strength to the group.”

Murphy has split his time between the first team and the Under-21s at Newcastle this season, playing six games for the latter. He has also played in the Vertu Trophy against Rotherham.

Bolton and a few Championship clubs, including Portsmouth, were linked with a loan in the summer at a time when the youngster was with Eddie Howe’s first team squad on pre-season tour but an injury left him unable to complete a move.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell gave Bolton encouragement that they could resurrect their interest last week but they were forced to wait over the weekend to complete.