Rafael Benitez’s side are the top scorers in the Championship so far.
Before the season started, Newcastle were made favourites for the Championship title due to the amount of talent they have at the club and the manager who is overseeing everything.
The attacking options for Rafael Benitez have no doubt given him selection headaches as he chops and changes his side, with almost every forward contributing in some fashion. The Magpies have scored 22 goals so far this season, which is the most in the division, one ahead of Norwich.
To score goals, you have to create chances, so here are the five players who have created the most goal scoring opportunities in black and white this season.
| Chances Created | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonjo Shelvey | 22 | 11 | 826 |
| Matt Ritchie | 21 | 11 | 850 |
| Ayoze Pérez | 13 | 8 | 472 |
| Vurnon Anita | 12 | 9 | 789 |
| Mohamed Diamé | 11 | 8 | 645 |
It is no surprise that Jonjo Shelvey leads the way with 22 chances created. The England international has been the linchpin for Newcastle this season, pulling the strings in midfield and making them tick. Shelvey dictates the tempo of the game, and their opponents have rarely been able to stop the 24-year-old.
Newcastle United’s Jonjo Shelvey applauds fans after the game
Matt Ritchie has shown why he was brought into the club, and has proved to be the ideal replacement for Andros Townsend. The right winger has often been the spark for Newcastle, and has created 21 chances, narrowly missing out on top spot.
The biggest surprise is that Ayoze Perez and Mohamed Diame make the top five. Neither player has set the world alight this season, with the Spaniard struggling to adapt to the physicality of the Championship, while the summer signing from Hull has done little to suggest he is an adequate replacement for Moussa Sissoko.
Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez looks dejected
Perez’s stat is even more incredible when you consider the amount of time he has spent on the pitch, creating a chance every 36 minutes, which is more often than Shelvey who creates a chance every 37.5 minutes.
Versatile Dutchman Vurnon Anita slots between Perez and Diame, creating 12 chances and showing just how useful he is as a right back. The arrival of DeAndre Yedlin has put pressure on Anita, with the American a lot more attacking than Newcastle’s number eight.
Overall, Newcastle have created 123 chances in the opening 11 games of the season, and are showing why they were tipped for the title so early.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez
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