Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Matt Ritchie admits he has been critical of his own goalscoring record this season as he looks to improve on his tally of four league goals.

The winger netted the opener in the 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest on December 30 after his free-kick was deflected in, and the Scotsman passionately celebrated by kicking the corner flag.

Speaking to NUFC.co.uk, the 27-year-old said he hopes the goals become more frequent.

“I’ve been beating myself up a bit about the amount of goals I’ve scored,” he said. “I would like to score a few more and hopefully that will give me the confidence to do so.

(Image: Newcastle United)

“It was a little bit lucky but felt I needed a bit of luck and the team as well. We haven’t had many things fall for us in the last few weeks so it was nice to get on the scoreheet in whatever way.

“It was good to get back to winning ways.

“Obviously we had the blip on boxing day but we put in a good performance today.”

Ritchie was a stand-out performer as United went back to the top of the league in the last fixture of 2016.

Nicolao Dumitru equalised for Forest after Ritchie’s fourth-minute free-kick, before a second-half double from Dwight Gayle sealed the three points for Rafa Benitez’s men.