Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough and defender Kyle McFadzean both say missing Luke Murphy on Saturday is a big blow.
The Leeds United midfielder has been on loan at the Pirelli Stadium since January and he has been a regular in the side under Nigel Clough, helping in their battle against relegation in their first ever season in the Championship.
Murphy starred in midfield for Burton in their 2-0 win at Birmingham City on Monday, a win that sees them move four points clear of the relegation places with just three games remaining.
The terms in Murphy`s loan deal at Burton means he cannot play against his parent club on Saturday and Clough says it is a huge blow to lose the influential midfielder.
“It`s a big blow missing Luke against his parent club, he`s been one of our most consistent players,” Clough told the Burton Albion official website.
“His fitness has improved but it`ll do him good to get a breather too.”
McFadzean was also full of praise for the former Crewe Alexandra midfielder, who has made 18 appearances for Burton since his arrival.
‘It is a blow that Luke misses out on Saturday, since he has come into the side he has been great. He does a lot more work than you don’t even see, he’s been a great addition for us,’ McFadzean told the Burton press conference ahead of the clash with Leeds.
Murphy was the first £1m player to arrive at Leeds in eight years when he made the move to Elland Road from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2013.
He scored a last minute winner on his Leeds debut in the 2-1 opening day win against Brighton and he was a regular in his first season at the club making 40 appearances.
The following season, he struggled to break into the side in the first half of the season but he then became a regular for Neil Redfearn in the second half of the season and his form saw him nominated for the fans player of the season.
His form saw him rewarded with a new four-year deal and he made 38 appearances last season, taking his total appearances for Leeds to over 100.
Murphy made just one appearance for Leeds in the first half of this season in the 1-0 win at Luton Town in the League Cup in August, his 111th for the club and he eventually joined Burton on loan for the remainder of the season in January.
He scored for Burton on just his third start for the club in the win at Queens Park Rangers, he has since established himself in the Burton midfield, and he has made 16 starts in his 18 appearances for the club.
Murphy is due to return to Elland Road at the end of the season and he is contracted to the club until the summer of 2019.
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