A few local reports have confirmed that Newcastle’s right wing-back/left-winger Matt Ritchie has returned to training this week. He will be assessed after training tomorrow and a decision will be made as to whether he will be included in the squad for Sunday’s fixture against Arsenal.
Matt Ritchie will be in squad for Arsenal on Sunday as long as he doesn't suffer a setback. He returned to training this week after recovering from a hamstring problem. #nufc
— Miles Starforth (@milesstarforth) August 9, 2019
TEAM NEWS: #NUFC handed a major boost as Matt Ritchie is passed fit for Sunday's season-opener against Arsenal… https://t.co/FIjSQsIg0a
— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) August 9, 2019
Ritchie injured his hamstring against Hibs a week and a half ago but it seems to have not been too serious at all. It will be a nice boost to have the twenty-nine year old back in the squad.
Ritchie made 39 appearances last season for the Magpies with 3 goals and 9 assists. It will be good to have as much continuity going into this first match as is possible after such a transitional summer.
If Ritchie can make the squad, it will leave Florian Lejeune (knee), Andy Carroll (ankle), DeAndre Yedlin (Groin), Dwight Gayle (calf), and Christian Atsu (Knee) as players who will not be available for Sunday. There is also news that Jack Colback may be suffering from a slight knee injury as well.
93 comments so far
IrishRob
Aug 9, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Comment #1I look at you, then you me,
Hungry and thirsty are we,
Holding the lion’s share,
Holding the key,
Holding me back because I’m striving to be.
Better than you,
Better than you,
Better than you,
Better than you.
JP...from The Rock
Aug 9, 2019 at 1:54 PM
Comment #2I really hope we’re not reverting to our old method of rushing players back. That will only make things worse.
MickyZee
Aug 9, 2019 at 1:55 PM
Comment #3On Andy Carroll, could turn out to be a good piece of business, his body would possibly not allow for him to be a 90 minute week in week out man, using him as an impact player could be good for us, that said an impact player still has to be fit, but a huge benefit could be that even now, before a ball has even been kicked, he has still taken the focus away from Joelinton and zMaximin, and easing the pressure on those two young lads could prove to be vital.
DAVE..TOON..9
Aug 9, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #4gutted i thought ginger jack had gone
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:04 PM
Comment #5Jail, I didnt “tear into” rafa after the first game. We did ok against Leicester. They were v good. But when I saw the dross effort against Sunderland, wjhom we played off the pitch away from home ( and lost) , i started getting concerns. I have highlighted them fairly over time, and also highlighted his good stuff – eg lack of injuries to players. But you have singularly refused to accept that your angel might have failings. Well guess what fella, you were wrong. Your other issue was that you equated rafa with Ashley too directly.You tied the two up directly – stupidly. You could not accept ANY criticism – even when we were having 30% possession against teams like cardiff . You could NEVER accept criticism of his late subs. Thankfully, many people started to realise that these issues were correct, whilst you and a small few others stuck your head in the sand and shouted me down. Imagine if you had supported man u and a fan dared to question Fergie – you might have hung him. You really are stupid and have shown your myopic tendency time and time again. As for Bruce – I will give him every chance – and be fair and balanced with him aswell. Perhaps you should do the same.
Oldgit1
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:08 PM
Comment #6@MickyZee some very good points in your post.
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #7Jail, and as i’m at it, you have lied about this for quite a while. Did you admit to the blog yet that you lied that I wanted Pearson ahead of rafa ?? The only time i said i wud take Pearson was on the basis that rafa might not come back. I like highlighting your lies Jail. Where is your lecturer sidekick Tarquin?
geordietom
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #8#14 …
from previous thread who’s ” david ruiz” …
david luiz <<<<
Oldgit1
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:11 PM
Comment #9@ Dace toon9, can see why, we have no cover for Hayden, I said we needed another CDM, better than nowt.
ChicoUSA
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:12 PM
Comment #10So who in the list below will NOT be in the 25 man squad?
Rob Elliot
Jack Colback
Rolando Aarons
Ciaran Clarke
DeAndre Yedlin
Javi Manquillo
Note to Mag52 from a post several “buses” ago
You listed players that predated Rafa and included Ritchie, Hayden and Yedlin. But those three players were brought into the club by Rafa prior to the last season in the championship (2016/17). Ritchie was in fact Rafa first player purchased…
barkel
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:12 PM
Comment #11Carroll is a PR stunt “he’s one of our own” “he’s coming home” .. he’s going to make about 10 appearances and score maybe 2-3, he’s got no legs anymore. Don’t think we’ll go down but can’t see any improvement on last seasons finish
geordietom
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Comment #12BOOTED OUT Newcastle fans will love what Alan Brazil did to Sunderland fan in the studio as talkSPORT gets ready for new Premier League season
The Premier League season is finally back and to celebrate talkSPORT invited fans into our studio during the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
We had supporters from Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle all join Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist on Friday.But a Sunderland fan managed to sneak in and Alan Brazil was not having any of it!
The talkSPORT host booted him out of the studio much to the delight of the other fans – including one Newcastle supporter – in the studio as they sang ‘cheerio, cheerio, cheerio’ as he left.
The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast
?
@SportsBreakfast
“Cheerio! Cheerio! Cheerio!” ?
We invited Premier League fans into the studio… ?
…but a Sunderland fan has turned up! ?
So we did what we had to do and booted him out! ?#NUFC fans will love this ???
Savage ?
Oldgit1
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:15 PM
Comment #13@ Munster, I would give up on trying to appease JFA, there’s no point. Ignore his posts, he is a very sad man that Rafa has left. For him it’s the end of the world. Some of us can move on like when Keegan left, SBR, etc. Unfortunately he can’t.
Season soon to start. Back the team and manager.
DAVE..TOON..9
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:17 PM
Comment #14i would use matty longstaff rather than ginger jack
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Comment #15Good thinking Micky. I think he has hopefully grown up now and knows that he has to maximise his time left by keeping fit. It will be interesting to see how our “useless new ugly fat backward mackem bastard dinosaur traitor” ( Copyright Les Miserables) manages his time on the pitch.
hibbit
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:20 PM
Comment #16has the official Premier League squad been released any surprises ??
ChicoUSA
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:21 PM
Comment #17Dave
So would I! (use Matty Longstaff instead of Colback).
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:21 PM
Comment #18Oldgit, me appease Jail? Nah, im just taking the piss out of him. Imagine if he had supported Forest under Cloughie ? Any fans questioning Brian would have been shot by Jail as no internet!
posada
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Comment #19Ah a fan from that other place was booted out was he.
He probably went to the nearest cafe and consoled himself with a cheese pastie and a tub of garlic dip.
Nice, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it !
DAVE..TOON..9
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Comment #20nobody wanted bruce but we are stuck with him now you never know he might surprise us
ChicoUSA
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:23 PM
Comment #21hibbit
I have not seen the official list, but am interested to see in my list above (should have added Atsu) which players are not on the 25 man roster…
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Comment #22So I sat my young fella down and told him to look at Any Carroll, the geordie monster. I wont let him suppport Liverpool without a fight. He came in and said he loves the new Toon top and could i buy it for Christmas or his birthday in October. Dilemma re Ashley on shirts. Sorry, the kids gonna get a new jersey. HTL.
Munster Mag
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Comment #23Posada, all good ?
DAVE..TOON..9
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #24munster
get the bairn the toon top my grandkids all have them
Asi Fish
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Comment #25Think i have just bought a house in the NE from abroad – been difficult not being able to visit and mental not seeing anything in real life.
SB better turn NUFC into the surprise team of the season and make it worth my while!
Can’t decide what i think will happen Sunday. Half of me thinks that we will be turned over whilst the other half thinks we will surprise Arsenal (and everyone else) with a draw or win.
I’m going for a result to us – I think VAR will have it’s part to play and Luiz may have a stinker and get red.
hibbit
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:33 PM
Comment #26ChicoUSA
i know the list has to be in today, but far i’ve seen no official announcements.
posada
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:36 PM
Comment #27Aye, good.
To boycott or not to boycott that is the question.
Ron Knee
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:36 PM
Comment #285pm deadline.
Mindshaft
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:37 PM
Comment #29Can’t understand the hate for colback yet the love for Carroll as one of our own ,he chose to leave for Liverpool after talking with Nolan , did nothing with his career since leaving toon and has came back knackered on 60k a week!
Colback is a decent squad player who will be ready for action when called upon
Mindshaft
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Comment #30Asi-fish – hope it works out for you, heres hoping )
ChicoUSA
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Comment #31Thanks Ron and hibbit! Should be interesting to see who SB left out of the squad…
hibbit
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Comment #32thank’s Ron
Mister Tuff
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Comment #33Asi – your post at 25 just about sums things up, well at least for me as well :- “Can’t decide what i think will happen Sunday. Half of me thinks that we will be turned over whilst the other half thinks we will surprise Arsenal (and everyone else) with a draw or win”.
Predictions for our first few games will be speculation, influenced perhaps by hoping for a Toon victory.
If our forwards do not click/gel doom could beckon.
However, my speculation is a victory for the Toon .
ronaldo aarons
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Comment #34Munster
I notice you keep mentioning that Sunderland game under Rafa about how we played and supposedly played them off the park the previous fixture.
No matter how we played before that game, we still lost. We were on a 6 game losing run to Sunderland. Say what you like about rafas tactics that game, we got a draw from it and stopped the losing run to Sunderland. Anything else is what ifs, as we could easily as you mentioned, played them off the park again but doesn’t mean we would even get a point.
I think you’re picking the wrong game to back your argument.
Oldgit1
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:41 PM
Comment #35Interesting that we had 61m to spend, and we spent allegedly 61.5. Humm didn’t think we would get the Perez money.
DAVE..TOON..9
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:41 PM
Comment #36dont hate colback i just dont think he is good enough ,and always gets booked too often
Oldgit1
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Comment #37Oh god I’m turning into toon 22. Sorry all.
hibbit
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:42 PM
Comment #38one of the Chronicle’s better read’s
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mike-ashleys-greatest-gamble-newcastle-16728299
hibbit
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:51 PM
Comment #39steve bruce seems happy enough to toe the party line, and he’s not afraid to tell a few porkies while doing so !!
https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/08/if-steve-bruce-comes-out-with-much-more-of-this-we-are-going-to-have-problems-newcastle-united/
Mad Frog Boom 22
Aug 9, 2019 at 2:57 PM
Comment #40Two games away from crisis.