Matt Ritchie’s season is over after the winger admitted to a Football Association misconduct charge, seeing him face a two-match ban.
Ritchie has been charged following an incident in the 1-1 draw to Leeds United earlier this month, with the 27 year-old said to have used abusive or insulting language towards a match official in or around the tunnel area after the full time whistle that night.
This serves as a blow to our slim title hopes, seeing the former Bournemouth man ruled out of tonight’s game at Cardiff AND next weekends visit of Barnsley on the final day of the season. His energy and end product will be missed.
Rafa Benitez had suggested, prior to this announcement, that Ritchie would miss tonight’s game through a minor injury, so the ban may hand the all action midfielder a timely rest – provided the team cope in his absence.
Either way, it is a shame to see Ritchie’s season end on this note, with the Scottish international one of the leading contenders to win our player of the season award this year.
What a season he’s had. The heartbeat of this Newcastle United side.
See you in the Premier League Matt!
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