Murphy achieved a lifelong dream in Newcastle's 6-1 away win against Qarabağ after scoring his first Champions League goal for his boyhood club before making his 250th Magpies outing in Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester City.

The right winger, who also celebrates his 31st birthday tomorrow, reflected positively on his maiden strike in Baku and is relishing Newcastle's return to "home comforts", with five successive fixtures at St. James' Park potentially in store.

Murphy told newcastleunited.com: "It felt amazing! Also a relief as well. Going back a few years, playing in the Champions League was something I wanted to achieve and managed to make my debut in the San Siro (against AC Milan). After that, it was when could I get my first goal and assist.

"I'd done well to get a few assists but that first goal was alluding me and baring a bit tricky to get. With a little help, I finally got it!

"It's nice to be back at home. We've had four really tough away games in a row and to be back in our living room, so to say, is something we're all looking forward to. It's nice to be back in front of our fans playing in our stadium again. We know it's going to be a tricky game, there's still a lot of work to do, but we're just happy to be back."

With a healthy goal advantage after the club's biggest ever Champions League win, Newcastle stand in good stead to set up a last-16 clash with either FC Barcelona or Chelsea and Murphy is hopeful the squad can create further history in this season's European campaign.

He added: "It would be amazing! This group over the last four seasons have been reaching new heights in different ways and this is another milestone which we can achieve.

"If we can do that, we'll be super buzzed about it because we've done some really good things in previous seasons and this will be another one to add to it.

"People who were watching at home would've been blown away with out start out in Baku. I certainly was on the bench watching it! It was a really strong performance and when we're at our aggressive front-footed self, that's what we're capable of.

"Everyone in the Premier League knows about that and we've gave a good account of ourselves so far in the Champions League and a combination of everything going right for us, delivering at a really high level."

It has been a commendable journey for Murphy, who joined Newcastle from Norwich City in the summer of 2017 and after completing loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday, established himself as a key senior figure in Eddie Howe's first-team squad.

A member of the club's Leadership Group, the Wembley-born forward revealed a former Magpie who benefited him during his lengthy spell on Tyneside.

"Even to have a leadership role, that's awesome as well!" Murphy said. "I've had some really good mentors over the nine years I've been here.

"Matt Ritchie was amazing for me and I took a lot from him. He was one of the first people I reached out to when I got elected into the leadership group. He said he had sensed those qualities in me from early on.

"When I went to Sheffield Wednesday (on loan), I could start seeing a resurgence. Everyone has a similar journey that they want to go on. There's just different paths and that was my path. Luckily, when I was on that loan at Sheffield Wednesday, it started to click for me.

"I came back and then that's where I felt Jacob Murphy 2.0 formed. Personally, I had a good couple of seasons under Steve Bruce and then the gaffer came in and the rest is history."

After reaching the 250-game mark on Saturday, becoming the 50th player in the club's history to reach the feat, Murphy believes the achievement would not have been possible without a number of key people in his fooballing and personal life.

"You try and play as many games as you can," he explained. "I never really had a number in my head of total appearances that I wanted to achieve here but I was made aware by the kitman before the game that if I were to come on, that would be my 250th game. It was pretty cool!

"My parents and my family have been ever present in the journey. They've helped me a lot. I've had a lot of teammates who've helped me get to this number as well, a lot of managers past and present that have really helped me being able to have such longevity at the club and a huge number of appearances here. There's too many people to thank!