One to Watch – Matt Ritchie

Name: Matt Ritchie

Date of Birth: 10/9/1989

Nationality: England

Former Clubs: Portsmouth, Dag & Red, Notts County, Swindon

League Appearances (Goals): 186 (44)

International Appearances (Goals): 0 (0)

Stat of the Day: Bournemouth have only drawn 2 of their last 19 games in which Matt Ritchie has featured

Player Profile: Often players quickly find the standard they best perform at; Tommy Smith and Wayne Routledge superb Championship players, Tom Cleverley and Joe Allen nothing more than good mid-table Premier League players, Patrick Agyemang and Leon Clarke a real danger to lower league defences and Bobby Zamora and Armand Traore operate superbly within the physio room. For Bournemouth`s recent acquisition Matt Ritchie, however, we`re still waiting to see what level the winger can reach. Having destroyed both League 2 and League 1 with a series of eye-catching performances, helping both Swindon and Bournemouth respectively to promotions, the former Portsmouth youngster has the potential to continue with his exciting development. A persistent thigh injury ruled the 24-year-old for the beginning of the current campaign, but if his recent 116 minutes of Championship football is anything to go by the winger could take the next level by storm. Eddie Howe will be keen to get a good run of games under Ritchie`s belt in order to allow him to replicate his fine form over the past two seasons and help Bournemouth achieve the mid-table finish they should aspire to attain.

Player History:

Matt Ritchie joined Portsmouth`s Academy at the age of 13 and having made his way through their youth teams signed his first professional contract in 2008. Ritchie went to Bournemouth on trial over the summer of 2008 in the hope of securing a loan deal but was kept at Fratton Park due to a list of mounting injuries for Pompey.

Harry Redknapp sent the midfielder out on a one month loan deal to Dagenham & Redbridge in order to gain some first team experience in September 2008. His successful start at Victoria Road saw his loan spell extended as he stayed there for the duration of the 2008/2009 season, scoring 11 league goals in 37 appearances; he subsequently won Portsmouth`s Young Player of the Year award for his fine displays at Dagenham.

The following season Ritchie joined Notts County on loan and after they made several failed attempts to make the move permanent, in February 2010 he moved to Swindon on loan for the remainder of the season. Another injury crisis at Portsmouth meant that his loan spell at The County Ground ended after just one month, however, as he was recalled back to Fratton Park. Ritchie made his debut for Portsmouth`s first team in April 2008 in a Premier League fixture against Wigan Athletic.

Following their relegation from the Premier League, Portsmouth`s impending financial troubles meant they had to disband their reserve team as Ritchie was sent on loan to Swindon, where he eventually signed a permanent deal in January 2011. His time at Swindon was a huge success as he was named as their Player of the Season despite their relegation from League 1 and having only signed in January.

The following season Ritchie scored 11 times in 52 appearances for The Robins leading to Swindon`s promotion back to League 1 as well as the midfielder picking up the PFA League 2 Player of the Year award. Ritchie was the subject of bids from bigger clubs over the summer but stayed at Swindon for the beginning of the following season. His fine form continued and in January promotion chasers Bournemouth moved to sign the winger for a fee of £500,000. He helped his new side clinch promotion to the Championship and Ritchie`s superb performances, in which he netted 12 times in 49 appearances, led to the PFA League 1 Player of the Year award.

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