Murphy aims for English top-flight

The Irish pair have enjoyed contrasting fortunes since they moved from the Emerald Isle in June last year, with Murphy joining Sunderland at the same time as Doyle clinched a contract at Reading.

It looked at the time as if Murphy had got the better deal, joining the Black Cats as they were about to embark on their first season in the Premiership.

But, after making 18 appearances for Sunderland and scoring just once in the top tier, Murphy has had to make do with Championship football this season.

Doyle, on the other hand, helped the Royals to the Championship title and now he is sitting proud at the top of the Premiership scoring charts having scored eight goals this season.

Both players are 23 - one arrived from Cork City and the other Waterford United - and both are expected to earn many caps for the Republic of Ireland over the next decade or so, with Doyle already on two appearances for his country.

Murphy, hoping to score in his fourth successive game when Sunderland go to Burnley this afternoon, said: "I probably would have been better off if I'd done things the way Kevin did. Kevin's done really well, so fair play to him.

"Having seen him score goals in the Championship I always believed he could in the Premiership. Why not? I was sure he could step up a level and he's done that.

"I text him a lot. He's done very well. He's a lovely fella anyway and he won't let his success go to his head. In that regard there are no problems.

"There's no rivalry between us. Seeing people like him do well gives you confidence."

This is Murphy's second attempt at making a success of life in England, having failed to earn a contract with Luton Town when he was 17 after becoming homesick.

This time, though, he feels more at home at the Stadium of Light, having moved over to the North-East with his girlfriend and his young child.

"When I first came over the lads welcomed me in. They're a great bunch of lads so it made it easy to settle in. I've got my family, I've got my house sorted, everything really, so I'm concentrating on Sunderland now," said Murphy.

"Getting things right off the pitch is the most important part. When I went to Luton I wasn't happy from the minute I went over so it wasn't really going to happen for me.

"You have to be happy off the pitch. If you're settled you're not going to have any worries and you can just concentrate on things on the pitch."

Murphy's three goals in as many games helped Sunderland extend an unbeaten run to six matches and push towards a play-off place.

"I'm delighted not only that I've scored in the last three games but also the results," he said. "That's what matters really. I have to be pleased with that. I feel more confident now, definitely. Somebody said before when the gaffer puts his faith in you it's a big boost for your confidence.

"We're not playing great but we're grinding out results and that gives me confidence to know how well we can play. I'm sure we'll see that over the next few days. When the gaffer came in he said he was going to watch every player and he has. He's given every player a chance. When he shows faith in you by keeping playing you and he pays you a compliment it's only going to help you to be more confident and go out and produce."

Sunderland are asking all supporters to buy their tickets for the Boxing Day fixture against Leeds United in advance.

There will be a small number of cash turnstiles with a limited number of tickets available on the day, operating for home supporters only and supervised by the police. The cash turnstiles will be in the East Stand, numbers 39, 40, 47 and 48, all priced at £24. There will be no £19 adult concessions available from the turnstiles and all concessionary seats for this match must be purchased in advance from the stadium's ticket office.

The ticket office is open all this week and on December 23, 10am-1pm.