Matt Ritchie is loving life back in Newcastle\u2019s starting line-up after a tough period on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
The experienced midfielder, 34, has racked up more than 200 appearances for the Toon during a seven-year stint that started by helping fire them out of the Championship.<\/p>\n
Having just experienced their first Champions League campaign in 20 years, Ritchie has been a part of a legendary rise on Tyneside but has found minutes harder to come by this term until recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Speaking to LiveScore ahead of his side\u2019s clash with Fulham on Saturday, Ritchie said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a challenge [this season].\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been lucky that in my career, more often than not, I\u2019ve been playing week in, week out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis period at Newcastle has been the first time I\u2019ve not been, but it comes with age \u2014 plus the team is evolving. It\u2019s all natural.<\/p>\n \u201cAs footballers, we all work with the sports psychologists. You learn to put things in perspective and understand the feelings that come with not playing.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it was accepting my situation. The gaffer felt I still had something to offer the group and I decided I want to play as high as I can for as long as I can.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the start of the season, we had 25 or 26 fit players and opportunities were looking few and far between.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the group has taken a few knocks and I\u2019ve been called upon, which I\u2019ve really enjoyed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pressure that comes with needing to be ready has driven me. You don\u2019t want to let your team-mates down and we have a great environment.\u201d<\/p>\n The man who has overseen the more recent period of Newcastle\u2019s success is Eddie Howe, who Ritchie also worked with at former club Bournemouth.<\/p>\n Few are better placed to talk about the 46-year-old tactician and Ritchie believes he has earned his success the hard way.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI think his best asset is his consistency.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known the gaffer since I was 24 when he signed me at Bournemouth and he\u2019s always been the first into the training ground and last one out.<\/p>\n \u201cHe set the work ethic for that group back then and it\u2019s still the case today, 10 years on. He drives the standards.<\/p>\n \u201cHe does not expect anything from anybody that he\u2019s not willing to go and do himself, whether that\u2019s players, coaches or other staff.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he was out of work, it\u2019s well documented he didn\u2019t rest on his laurels. He went away and worked on himself, learnt from the best in the world and all that is showing now.<\/p>\n \u201cEddie leads by example and it\u2019s something I\u2019ll take forward with me wherever I go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ritchie is already starting to make plans for after his playing days, with one avenue of exploration seeing him partner with fitness giants STATSports.<\/p>\n A world-leading provider of GPS player tracking and analysis equipment, he admits to becoming fascinated with the company very quickly.<\/p>\n The former Scotland international said: \u201cThe data we can collect in football now is mind-blowing. The GPS vests are crucial in elite football.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a company, STATSports is in a really exciting period of development and I\u2019m delighted to play a part.\u201d<\/p>\n Mat<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1702654520_669_e2818b1e-e7da-44f8-ae17-58784735b765.jpg\")
Show me Howe<\/h2>\n
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/cf1aae2c-9a20-4b96-9704-f4807f78a014.jpg\")
![\"STATSports](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/30c54dc9-a812-4ca1-ad30-940b0ee73d2d.jpg\")