Newcastle United have lacked leaders in recent years, but Benitez appears to have rectified the issue.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has lauded the character of winger Matt Ritchie, admitting to The Chronicle that he is a great example to the rest of the squad.
The Scotland international surprisingly swapped guaranteed Premier League football with Bournemouth for a promotion battle with the recently relegated Magpies in the summer, revealing to The Chronicle that he was enticed by the challenge of returning the North East giants to the elite.
Ritchie has certainly delivered on his side of the bargain, creating five goals from his usual position on the right flank to help Newcastle to the top of the Championship table.
And Benitez has praised the 27-year-old’s behaviour both on and off the pitch, saying that his professional attitude is making it impossible for the Spaniard to leave him out of the team.
“[Ritchie] is a great example to others in terms of his attitude and the way he approaches every training session and game,” Benitez told The Chronicle.
“He is desperate to play and he puts me under pressure, but it’s a nice pressure.”
One standout feature of Newcastle’s abject relegation last season was the alarming lack of leaders in the squad, experienced figures like Fabricio Coloccini and Moussa Sissoko drawing the ire from the fans by contributing heavily to a series of limp displays characterised by a dearth of fight, passion or spirit.
However, with Ritchie, not to mention the maturing Jonjo Shelvey (below) and captain Jamaal Lascelles, in the ranks this time around, Newcastle look a stronger, more together unit.
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