Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy said he empathised with Daryl Murphy after the 33-year-old striker handed in a transfer request ahead of a move to Newcastle United.

Murphy was left out of the Blues’ 18-man squad for today’s 1-0 victory over Preston North End, and looks set to move to St James’ Park next week for a fee of around £3m.

McCarthy, who denied reports that Crystal Palace winger Sullay KaiKai had been spotted at the game, said after the victory: “They’ve (Newcastle) bid for him, he’s put a transfer request in and my view is that he’s asked to leave and we will get other players in.

“It’s a great move for him I think, and good luck to him, he’s been terrific for me but it’s one of those deals that can’t really be stopped and good luck to him.”

Asked if the deal represented good business for the club, McCarthy added: “It is. With the goals and performances we have had out of him, it is and we will re-invest that.”

Murphy scored 67 times in 225 games for the Blues, having signed a permanent deal at Portman Road in 2013, but his desire to leave made McCarthy’s job easy, according to the Blues boss.

“It (transfer request) makes it easier for me that. If it’s me that’s stopping him and I stop a 33-year-old from going to play for Newcastle, who are arguably going to be top of the league, I think he would resent that for the rest of my life.

“If I was him I would do the same so I have a very pragmatic view on that and I would prefer to let him go, he’s asked for a move, go and do well for Newcastle and Ireland, and we’ll re-invest the money and get someone else.

“By the way, there was a bit of apathy towards him and when I re-signed him I can’t remember anyone dancing in the street with their knickers in the air. I signed him at Sunderland I put my arm round him, TC (Terry Connor) got to work with him and he is a real force to be reckoned with now.

“We will do that again with a younger version.”

On the game and result which saw Town move up to 11th, McCarthy said: “I thought we played very well in the first half and we had to have a right royal scrap in the second half, it was a real bloke’s performance.”