Read how Matt Ritchie's phenomenal work ethic is rubbbing off on Newcastle's young players

Callum Roberts says he's had to 'up his game' after being promoted to Rafa Benitez's first-team squad at Newcastle United.
Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)
Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)

The winger – who has featured in all three of the club’s pre-season friendlies – hopes to play against Braga tonight.

And Roberts feels he’s already a better player after training and playing alongside the club’s senior players.

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“Looking at player like Matt Ritchie, you don’t really see how hard he works on a day-to-day basis,” said the 21-year-old.

“But when you train with him, you see it every day.

“It’s a massive step up in level from the Under-18s and the Under-23s.

“It makes you realise you need to up your game a lot more, whether that’s in the gym or on the pitch, because they’re non-stop.

Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)
Matt Ritchie. (Pic: Stephen Dobson)

“Everybody knows you need to work hard, but to make the step up you’ve got to work even harder.

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“It’s good for me, Sean (Longstaff), Victor (Fernandez), Jamie (Sterry) and Adam (Armstrong) to be around the first team and strive to get into it.”

Roberts had a spell on loan at Kilmarnock the season before last, and he’s desperate for more first-team football.

“We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks, but the main target now is to play games at a high level,” he said.

“That’s what I need to do, because the last couple of seasons haven’t really gone as well as I wanted them to.

“But this year I think I can do well.

“We’ll see what the manager says and see what happens.”