Rotation, Rotation, Rotation

As every Toon fan will know, Benitez likes to deploy a rotation policy over the course of the season, though Ritchie has been pretty much an ever-present.

Still, now that the club are taking cup competitions seriously, perhaps giving the 27-year-old a rest ahead of a vital EFL Cup quarter-final meeting with Hull City would be a wise idea.

The likes of the aforementioned Atsu, Ayoze Perez and even Mo Diame could come in on the right.