Newcastle were dealt a big blow ahead of the Manchester United game, with the Daily Star reporting combative winger-cum-wing-back Matt Ritchie has lost his battle to be fit.
Steve Bruce had hoped to have the fiery Scotland international back for the weekend’s game, but the report claimed Ritchie suffered a setback in training a couple of weeks ago.
The result of that is a delay in his return, which will hopefully be for the Chelsea game, after the impending international break.
Newcastle will already have midfielder Isaac Hayden absent, with his starting his three game ban for last week’s red card at Leicester.
But while they will miss Hayden, Ritchie’s absence continues to be the most felt, with the side lacking guile and intensity without him in it.
After the sight of Allan Saint-Maximin aggravating his hamstring injury at Spurs, after trying to come back too soon, Newcastle were always likely to err on the side of caution with Ritchie.
Matt Ritchie’s absence has proved his importance to the team
If there is one thing Bruce will have learned during the former Bournemouth man’s period out of the side, it is that he simply must play, when fully fit.
It is now plain to see how important he is to the team, and although he does not wear an armband, his leadership on the pitch is obvious to all.
He also leads by example, and although Christian Atsu has done okay when called upon, he does not have the physical qualities that Ritchie brings to the lineup.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it should be just that for Bruce and the Newcastle fans, as only since he has been missing, have we actually realised just what he brings to the team.
He is the epitome of not knowing what you have got until it is gone. Bruce must hope that he will not be gone for much longer.
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