After a 'selfish' moment: an England legend defends Marmoush

"Eager to score"

Tottenham fans have run out of patience quickly, and Egyptian star Omar Marmoush found himself at the centre of a storm of criticism. Then a heavyweight name in English football stepped in to defend him.

Former England international Danny Murphy backed Marmoush after his disappointing display in the goalless draw between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Premier League.

A start without goals: an incident that raises questions

Marmoush moved from Manchester City to Tottenham in the summer transfer window. He started for the second match in a row with his new side, but has so far failed to find the back of the net.

Against Forest on Saturday, the Egyptian looked far from his best. He managed only two shots, neither of them on target.

The moment that sparked the controversy came in the second half. Marmoush broke away on a promising counter-attack, with teammate Mohammed Kudus supporting him on the right wing, ten yards ahead of the last defender and in a perfect position to score from inside the penalty area.

Rather than cross to Kudus for a golden one-on-one, Marmoush chose to shoot himself, sending the ball high over the crossbar. His Ghanaian teammate was left astonished.

Murphy: it is a star's eagerness, not selfishness

Analysing the match on the famous "Match of the Day" programme, Danny Murphy offered a completely different reading. He put it down to great desire rather than selfishness.

Murphy said: "I don't think it will be a problem in the long run, as I see Marmoush as a special player, but he seems so eager to score goals and start strongly that he ignored Kudus."

The former Liverpool star added: "He sees him, and he knows where Andy Robertson is standing beside him, he is a top-class player, but his intense eagerness to give his team the win made him make the wrong decision at the wrong time. He also wasted a golden chance in the first half."

The riddle of Marmoush's new position

Murphy touched on a tactical point that may explain Marmoush's confusion. The coach had deployed him in an unfamiliar position.

He continued: "Omar Marmoush should have dropped back, Paul Merson played Marmoush as the most advanced midfielder in Tottenham's line-up, while Conor Gallagher played behind him in the number 10 playmaker role."

Striker Dominic Solanke paid the price for that switch, starting on the bench before coming on later. It all confirms that Marmoush is still searching for his new identity within the Spurs system.