Ex-Mag Daryl Murphy has revealed that he served a secret six-week suspension last season after taking cocaine on a night out during his time with Nottingham Forest.
The Irishman was rarely used by Benitez during our promotion season, but became somewhat of a cult hero on Tyneside, bagging 5 goals and 3 assists in 10 starts for the club.
Since being released in the summer of 2017, he’s had two seasons with Forest and is now banging them in for Bolton in League One, scoring 4 times in 7 starts so far this term.
Here’s what the 36-year-old told The Athletic this week, opening up about his regretful actions last season:
“Firstly, I would like to stress that the taking of recreational drugs is something that I don’t condone whatsoever.
“I served a suspension at the beginning of last season for making a bad decision while on a night out.
“This was an isolated incident which happened out of competition when we had no game. I immediately regretted it.
“I am not proud of what I did but it’s something I have put behind me as I want to concentrate on my football career.”
Given how hard working and professional he was during his one-year stint at St James’ Park, it’s quite a surprise to hear what he got up to during a wild night out in Nottingham last year.
That said, he clearly regrets the decision he made and is now moving on with his career after serving that secret six-week FA ban last season between October and December last year.
