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Which Newcastle United players will need to step in for Ritchie & ASM?

By Carson A Merk

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United is injured and comes off for Christian Atsu of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle United is injured and comes off for Christian Atsu of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Newcastle United will be without Matt Ritchie and Allan Saint-Maximin for over a month and players will need to fill the void to keep the Magpies afloat.

Steve Bruce essentially put Matt Ritchie and Allan Saint-Maximin on ice for at least the next month, likely longer. Ritchie has damaged ankle ligaments from a rough tackle vs. Leicester City and ASM re-aggravated a hamstring injury in the win over Spurs. Without the duo, Bruce will have to rely on some backup options for the next few matches. We take a look at who could step in.

For Ritchie:

Jetro Willems

He is the likeliest player to take Ritchie’s left wing-back position. He has good pace, an eye for the attack, and is a willing defender. Newcastle United will miss Ritchie’s crossing and work rate, but Willems’ speed and skill could help limit the drop off.

Javier Manquillo

While he’s definitely more comfortable on the right, Manquillo has played left-back before for the Magpies. He would obviously provide more defensive-minded play than in the attack.

Paul Dummett

Plugging a true, defense-first left-back into Ritchie’s spot would definitely change the look of the Newcastle United formation and style of play. Dummett would solidify the defending on that flank, but as we know, he doesn’t do much going forward.  NUFC carries some talented central defenders and could rotate Dummett out wide and slide in Ciaran Clark or Federico Fernandez at CB.

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For Saint-Maximin:

Christian Atsu

He came on for Saint-Maximin early in the Spurs match and provides a similar skill-set of pace and dribbling ability. If Steve Bruce wants the position to play more on the wing, Atsu is a shoo-in.

Matty Longstaff

If the position would play more centrally, the young Newcastle United midfielder could get a chance. It’s not likely, but he is all-action in the middle of the park and would provide something different in ASM’s absence.

DeAndre Yedlin

He’s also currently injured, but if he makes a return, he could add a defensive angle to the role. He has good pace and doesn’t mind getting forward at all.