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Matt Ritchie in great form at the right time for Newcastle United

By Durim Halimi

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United celebrates after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on February 11, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Matt Ritchie has been in great form since February, and the timing of his resurgence is a blessing for Newcastle United.

Slow starts have been the trend for some Newcastle United players entering the 2017/18 campaign. Over the last few months, Newcastle supporters have witnessed the revival of Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey in midfield. Matt Ritchie was not living up to expectations for most of this season, but the Magpies winger is now playing at an elite level.

Ritchie was Rafa Benitez’s first option on the wing opposite of Christian Atsu, but the Scottish international was inconsistent. As a result, Benitez’s lineup selections in midfield were difficult to predict as Ritchie found himself bouncing in and out of the team every other week.

Matt Ritchie’s mediocre form early in the season accelerated Jacob Murphy’s debut with the Magpies. What made things more difficult for Ritchie to re-gain his spot was Murphy’s good form. At one point, the Toon Army was calling for Benitez to start Murphy for the rest of the season.

With eight games remaining this season, Ritchie has transformed into one of the best and most reliable Magpies. That leads to the question – what changed for Ritchie in February?

Kenedy’s Arrival

When Newcastle announced the successful loan deal for Kenedy in January, the internal competition between Matt Ritchie, Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy only intensified. This competition impacted each winger differently. Murphy quickly fell second behind Kenedy on the left wing, and his lack of confidence since then gave Ritchie a second chance.

Instead of competing with the younger and more athletic Kenedy, Ritchie focused his attention on outplaying Atsu. When given the nod against Manchester United, there was no looking back for Ritchie who maintained the same efficiency and urgency in every match since then.

Efficient Central Midfield

The consistent play of Diame and Shelvey in the middle third of the pitch has tremendously aided Ritchie’s performances. Through Diame’s aggression, the Magpies are able to maintain more possession of the ball, which enables Shelvey to move the ball forward and out wide.

The efficient play in central midfield provides Ritchie and Kenedy with more action on the wing. The rising number of touches on the ball has benefited Ritchie and Newcastle, as he can showcase his passing accuracy by frequently crossing the ball into the penalty area.

Confidence

Last, but not least, Ritchie’s confidence has significantly improved his form. Ever since he scored the game-winner against Manchester United, he has played well in every match. Counting the friendly against Royal Antwerp on Sunday, Ritchie has scored three times in the last five matches.

Next: Newcastle's upcoming eight games

In addition, Ritchie leads the club with a tally of five assists thus far in the season. If Ritchie can keep this momentum going into a favorable match against Huddersfield Town on March 31, the Magpies can surely avoid relegation.