ALEX Murphy is relishing the chance to be tested at League One level with Wanderers.

The Newcastle United defender has joined on loan until the end of the season, becoming Ian Evatt’s second signing of the January transfer window.

Highly-rated on Tyneside and recent given a new long-term contract, Murphy has been pressing for a chance to get regular senior football and was close to joining Bolton in the summer.

But having been around Eddie Howe’s first team squad for several months, the 20-year-old is determined to use his time in the EFL to show he is ready for more football at top flight level.

“I've been around the first team at Newcastle for maybe a year and a bit now, so I've learned a lot from them and training with the first team,” he said.

“It's been great, but I think finally now is the right time to go out and play first-team minutes because that's where you prove yourself, against men in this league, so I'm delighted to be here with a chance to show what I can do.

“It’s a massive step for me to get to a club like this and show what I can do for the rest of this season and hopefully show that I'm ready when I go back to play in the Premier League, which is obviously my aim.

“I think I'll get tested in this league, which is what I want. I want to show people that I'm ready for the test and ready to go back to Newcastle and play but I want to do my best here and show the fans that I'm here for the moment and what I can do for the rest of this season.

“I saw the game here at the weekend and hadn’t really realised how big the stadium is. It’s a massive club which should definitely be at least in the Championship, if not the Prem. I think that's the aim and what everyone should be aiming for. There's pressure on but I think we'll enjoy that pressure.”

Murphy is eligible for a place in the squad for tonight’s home game against Charlton Athletic, where a win would bring Bolton level on points with sixth placed Stockport County and seventh-placed Reading.

Assistant manager Stephen Crainey was put up to answer questions from the local press before the game, and he is confident that the Newcastle youngster will give the Whites some much-needed tactical flexibility at the back.

“We want competition,” he said. “We want him to hit the ground running and then that makes people want to fight. I have been there myself as a player, when someone comes in on your position it makes you want to compete.

“He is a young man but we don’t have any concerns on that front, none at all. We wouldn’t bring anyone into this football club that we don’t trust and we trust him a lot.

“He has our backing. He seems very level-headed, he is committed to learning and he wants to get better.

“Youth isn’t a bad thing – he came in and trained today and looked good, a real positive, so hopefully he can add energy and enthusiasm.”