The winger comments on the strength of the current Newcastle United squad.
Newcastle United winger Matt Ritchie has told talkSPORT that the quality of the current squad was the first thing that struck him when he joined in the summer.
The winger made the move to St James Park in a summer move from Bournemouth, surprisingly swapping Premier League football for the Championship.
He was one of a number of new faces brought in by Rafa Benitez, who made 12 signings in total to overhaul the squad he inherited from Steve McClaren.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
For many the Magpies have the strongest squad in the division and Ritchie says their strength in depth was something that struck him when he arrived.
“As soon as I joined the club the quality we had within the group (struck me). I couldn’t believe how good the standard was in training,” he told talkSPORT.
The winger has also expressed his delight at being part of the success the side are enjoying at present.
Benitez’s team were strongly backed to secure automatic promotion this year because of the players at their disposal.
Dwight Gayle celebrates after scoring for Newcastle
After a shaky first two games they have found their feet, currently sitting top of the table with a three-point gap over Brighton and Hove Albion.
At this moment in time, it is hard to see anybody knocking them from that position and Ritchie says it is a nice experience to be part of.
“I expected us to be right up there but to be up there this early in the season and playing as well as we are hasn’t necessarily surprised me, but it’s nice to be part of that,” he added.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
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