Daryl Murphy admits he has to laugh after waiting five months for his chance at Newcastle only to then be rested because of their striker shortage.
The 33-year-old has scored three in three for the Magpies but fears he'll be reverted to the bench for Saturday's trip to Oxford United in the FA Cup fourth round.
Rafa Benitez has lost both Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic to injury in recent weeks and Murphy - who had been in the stands for the entirety of the league campaign before January - has impressed since deputising.
So much so, Benitez does not want to risk the Republic of Ireland frontman in the cup and Murphy said: 'It feels a bit weird being rested.