Striker Daryl Murphy has revealed that Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy was upset over the timing of his switch to Newcastle United last summer.

The Republic of Ireland international made his £3m switch to St James’ Park just three days before the August transfer window closed, having handed in a and the Blues have not been able to land a replacement for him since.

Murphy, 34, went on to help the Magpies claim the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, scoring six goals in nine starts and nine substitute appearances.

He still has another year left on his deal but has reportedly been made available for transfer by Rafa Benitez.

Speaking in an interview with WLRFM, the local radio station in his home town Waterford, Murphy said: “I think I recently said that it was no-brainer of a decision to go, it was but it wasn’t a case that it was easy to leave Ipswich.

“I had some great, fond memories there. The manager Mick McCarthy brought me over from England when I first came over with Sunderland, he signed me again at Ipswich and he really looked after me.

“I had a good bond with the fans and everything there, so in that sense it was tough to leave. But if Newcastle come in for you at my age and at that stage of my career there was only one choice I could make.”

• Fans say bringing back Murphy isn’t the answer.

Murphy’s departure was a key moment in Town’s worst season in 58 years, with boss McCarthy admitted the loss of his target man was a major blow.

“I think he was (upset) because most of our play went through me, that’s not sounding big-headed or anything, that was just the way we played and we got great joy from it over the years,” Murphy added.

“I think he was more upset at the timing of it. It didn’t really leave any time to get a replacement in. I think that was probably frustrating for him and the club.

“As I said, he’s been brilliant through my career, I can’t speak highly enough of him, but I just think it was time to move on and challenge myself again because I probably would never have got that chance again. Tough to leave, but I couldn’t turn it down.”

Regarding not celebrating his goal in the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Newcastle last month, he added: “It just didn’t feel right, I enjoyed my time there, I had a good bond with the fans and I just don’t think it would have been right to celebrate after scoring.

“I knew going into the game that if I did score that I wasn’t going to celebrate. Unfortunately we lost.”