Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United team seem to be making more and more of a statement in every match they play lately and, while the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has brilliantly managed to get the best out of his players recently, there is one man who stands out head and shoulders as arguably the club's best player this season; Matt Ritchie.

The 29-year-old scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Bournemouth on Saturday to earn the Magpies a precious point on the road and has been nothing less than consistent this whole campaign.

In the earlier stages of the season it was quite clear to see how good he is when the Newcastle team was suffering but, since they started getting momentum going and wins under the proverbial belt, the consistency and work-rate of Ritchie have been crucial.

His ability to play in almost every position on either flanks has been a prize-asset for Benitez and the rest of the team, making himself a cult-hero on Tyneside.

It is not often you see a player being able to play as both a right-back and a left-back, while also being equally comfortable of operating in midfield but the former Bournemouth ace looks comfortable in pretty much every role. Considering the lack of money spent by Mike Ashley in recent years, versatility is clearly key and, at a reported £10m to £12m, the Scotland star is looking one of the club's best buys of the modern era.

He might standout more for his attacking play, pressing up and whipping balls into the box, but his defending and man-marking should also not be doubted or overlooked.

Ritchie has been just as good defensively as he has been in attack and it's been a major contributor to the team's turnaround in their campaign.

The way he got onto a DeAndre Yedlin cross on Saturday at his former club, hitting the ball on the volley, while being relatively close to the Bournemouth goalkeeper was as good a goal as Newcastle have scored this season.

His commitment and never-say-die attitude have been a bit of a revelation at Newcastle and it is certainly an aspect of the game that other younger players in the team benefit from and maybe thrive off.

Magpies fans haven't been blessed with signings in recent years but, considering value for money, Matt Ritchie might be the best.

Newcastle United fans, do you think Matt Ritchie has been one of your best signings in recent memory? Join the discussion by commenting below...