^Matt Ritchie

A winger-turned-wing-back, Ritchie's passion and consistency has made him a mainstay of the United squad since his arrival from Bournemouth in the summer of 2016.

The Hampshire-born player joined the academy at local side Portsmouth aged 13 and after breaking into the first team set-up, he was loaned to Dagenham and Redbridge, where he made his Football League debut in 2008.

Further loan spells to Notts County and Swindon Town followed and after ten appearances for parent club Pompey, he made a permanent switch to Swindon in January 2011.

Despite picking up the club's Player of the Year award, the Robins were relegated to League Two but Ritchie's outstanding form helped the club to bounce straight back with the title - earning him the League Two Player of the Year gong for 2011/12.

He was snapped up by AFC Bournemouth in January 2013 and he was again named his division’s player of the year - this time in League One. Achieving incredible back-to-back promotions with the Cherries, he was a Premier League player by 2015/16 and stood out in both matches against the Magpies that season.

He would prove his worth in a promotion-chasing campaign once again after joining Newcastle, playing a starring role as Rafa Benítez's side won the Championship in 2017 and remaining a vital and popular member of the playing staff at St. James' ever since.

Full Name:

Matt Ritchie

Position:

Midfielder

Squad Number:

11

Nationality:

Scottish

Date of birth:

10th September 1989

Place of birth:

Gosport, England

Height:

172

Weight:

76

Date signed:

1st July 2016

Debut:

5th August 2016 v Fulham (A)

First Team Appearances:

24

Previous club:

Portsmouth, Dagenham & Redbridge (loan), Notts County (loan), Swindon Town (loan), Swindon Town, AFC Bournemouth