Matt Ritchie has given Newcastle United fans some amazing memories during his seven-year stint on Tyneside and continues to have a huge impact on the Magpies despite his game time dwindling in recent months.
Ritchie has had to settle for a bit-part role in Newcastle's barnstorming season thus far, playing only 34 minutes of Premier League football via six substitute appearances this term. It was a similar story at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday as the Scot was brought off the bench for just a single minute when he replaced Anthony Gordon in the dying seconds of the 2-1 win.
Gordon, who had only been brought on at half-time himself, was not happy with Eddie Howe's decision and made his feelings clear on the matter on the touchline before eventually taking his seat on the away bench.
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Ritchie may not have had much to do on the pitch before the final whistle sounded but the 33-year-old leader took it upon himself to try and defuse the Gordon situation as Newcastle's players celebrated their fifth win on the spin. Placing an arm around the winger's shoulder, Ritchie spoke at length with the £40m man at full-time to try and explain why he was brought off for the good of the team at a crucial stage of the game.
Howe was also spotted taking over that role as the players finally made their way back to the away dressing room for some post-match celebrations. The Newcastle manager insists he has no problem with Gordon and the matter has been squashed.
Ritchie's Newcastle future is up in the air at present. The versatile fan-favourite was heavily linked with a sentimental return to Portsmouth in January and there has been talk he could hang his boots up early too.
The former Scotland international recently gained an Online Masters in Football Business & Management and has also charge of some academy training sessions as he ponders a future move into coaching.
However, it was only a week ago that Howe insisted the ex-Bournemouth man had a big role to play at the business end of the campaign. "Matt behind the scenes has been incredible this year. He's a big presence vocally - you can hear him wherever you are on the training ground or off it!" Howe said.
"But he's got a great personality, he's really driven the group this year. He is one of our leaders. And when you consider he hasn't had as much football as he would have liked he has still driven the team in a positive way. I can't speak highly enough of him.
"But also he can still play. I have no doubt about that, he came on against Nottingham Forest and made an impact, and yeah he's got a big part to play for us."
Newcastle have spent big money and brought in some world class players since the 2022 January window. But the passion and leadership shown by the likes of Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles has played such a vital role in the Magpies' ascent up the table this season.
His full-time gesture to Gordon and behind the scenes encouragement and enthusiasm cannot be matched. He continues to help his Newcastle team-mates become better players.
"If it wasn't for Matty… he was the one who said, 'Longy, you need help'," Sean Longstaff recently admitted. "I was miserable. In training, I was a bit of a t*t. I wasn't nice to be around. Some people just let you drift away, but he [Ritchie] was the one who pulled me back.
"I'd been for breakfast and I broke down in tears in front of my old man. Matty texted me and said, 'You need to speak to this guy'. A psychologist. I still speak to him now. Two and a half years later, if it wasn't for him getting me on the right track, I probably wouldn't be playing for Newcastle. I remind him every couple of months, and he gets pretty embarrassed."
Ritchie may not have much time left as a Newcastle United player. The north east outfit will be poorer when he eventually departs St James' Park.
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