Magpie Matt Wants Promotion Push

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Matt Ritchie has declared himself up for the challenge of helping Newcastle United regain their top flight status after penning a five-year deal at St. James' Park.

The 26-year-old winger has joined the Magpies from AFC Bournemouth, becoming manager Rafa Benitez's third signing of the week, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Matz Sels and forward Dwight Gayle.

Ritchie, a senior Scotland international with ten caps to his name, lifted the Sky Bet Championship title with the Cherries just over a year ago, before going on to impress in their debut Premier League campaign.

But now, after joining United, the former Portsmouth man says he's ready for the task ahead as his new club look to mount a promotion push.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to come to a football club like this. It's what you work hard for as a kid. You watch teams like Newcastle on the TV growing up, and it's fantastic to be here and I'm really looking forward to the challenge," he told nufcTV.

"The potential of this football club with the manager, the dressing room, the squad that we have, I'm sure it's going to be an exciting time and a really positive future for the football club.

"I like to think that I score goals and can create goals, and hopefully I can do that this season. I'm sure that's what I've been brought here and hopefully we can achieve the aim of getting promoted back to the Premier League, where this club belongs."

The Magpies' latest recruit has played in the Championship twice before, both with Bournemouth and his first club Pompey.

And he says that Newcastle must combine quality with a steely determination if they're to bounce back from relegation at the first attempt in a division he knows well.

"I think you can have a lot of quality in the group, but without the right mentality, the right work ethic, you can get cut adrift. We need to know that it's going to be tough," said Ritchie.

"We'll have to put the miles in the legs and the quality - there's a lot of quality in the Championship. It's not going to be easy to get out of this league, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

And the draw of working under a manager of Benitez's character, Ritchie added, also proved to be a key reason why the wideman swapped the South coast for the North East.

"He's a manager that has managed at the very top level. I'm excited to work with him and his coaches. I'm sure I can become a better player, improve, and learn new ideas, so I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"I'm sure he's got many tricks up his sleeve to make players better and I'm sure he's got his own ideas how he wants to improve me. I'm excited.

"The main aim for this football club is to be in the Premier League, and I want to be a part of it. If I can be a big part of it, then that would be an absolute pleasure."

You can watch the full nufcTV interview with Matt Ritchie here