Newcastle United continued their good run in the Premier League by securing a late point against Bournemouth.
BBC Sport pundit Matthew Upson has claimed that Newcastle United ace Matt Ritchie can ‘play anywhere’ following his ‘ridiculous’ goal during his side’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Rafa Benitez’s side needed a late stoppage-time goal to rescue a point during their Premier League encounter at the Vitality Stadium, with Ritchie netting a sublime volley against his former club.
Ritchie is a natural winger, but his manager has utilised him in various positions across the front line, including playing him in a wing-back role.
Speaking to Final Score on BBC One (17/03/2019 at 5:20 pm), Upson was full of praise for Ritchie and the qualities he has as he was in absolute awe of the goal he scored against the Cherries.
“If he is going to score goals like that he can play anywhere on the pitch,” Upson told Final Score. “He can play at right-back and score. Honestly, it’s a ridiculous goal. The ball is coming out of the sky. It’s almost like he’s just relaxed and lashed it in a way, controlled, but it is flown into the roof of the net.”
Since moving from Bournemouth in 2016, Ritchie has helped the Magpies make a return to the top tier of English football and then secure a top-10 finish upon their return.
Over the course of the season, Ritchie has played 30 league matches for his side, scoring three goals and supplying four assists for his teammates [transfermarkt].
He has been utilised on the left and the right, both in an attacking and defensive sense this term, which further proves the importance he holds within this team.
Nonetheless, after the international break, the Magpies will travel to London to take on Champions League-chasing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
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