Newcastle United have pushed themselves ten-points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone following a three-match winning streak but one star has insisted the club’s top-flight status is not yet secured.
The Magpies sit tenth in the table following this weekend’s 2-1 victory over Leicester City, which all but secures Newcastle’s Premier League status, but fan favourite Matt Ritchie has insisted the club are not safe until they hit the 40-point mark.
One more victory would see the Magpies secure that target and Scotland international Ritchie is determined to stay focused until the task is complete, telling NUTV:
“We need to get to 40 points – we’re not safe yet. We need to perform well, and with good performances – as you’ve seen – come results.”
“We’re on a fantastic run at the moment and I think it’s gone under the radar a little bit – I think we’ve only been beaten by Manchester City twice and Liverpool in our last 13 or 14 games. I think we’ve been really solid and scored at good times, and today we did the same thing.”
“Hopefully we can continue to win games, and now – instead of looking over our shoulder as everyone in the bottom half has been doing for the last six months or so – we can hopefully start trying to catch one or two in front of us.”
Ritchie has contributed two goals and five assists in 29 Premier League outings this season.
