Matt Ritchie is the only Newcastle United player to have started more than 13 Premier League games so far this season.

In fact, he is the only Magpie to have been named in all 16 starting XIs.

The 28-year-old winger started the campaign with four assists in six games, but he has created only one other goal in 10 appearances since - and has yet to score this term. Benitez, however, has retained faith in the Scotland international, despite Ritchie’s poor recent form, with the winger having played 1,377 minutes in the top flight this season, 207 more than any other Magpie.

Somewhat surprisingly, defender Javier Manquillo - who was signed as cover at full-back during the summer but has found himself starting 13 games due to injuries - is joint-second on the list for minutes played this term alongside Rob Elliot.

Aleksander Mitrovic
Aleksander Mitrovic

Both have played 1,170 minutes in the league, though Elliot was dropped last month and Karl Darlow has started United’s last three matches in goal.

Only four other players have played more than a 1,000 minutes for United in the Premier League so far this season: Ciaran Clark (1,115), Ayoze Perez (1,027), Joselu (1,021) and Isaac Hayden (1,008).

Interestingly, just two of the 22 Magpies to have featured this term have yet to start a game - Aleksandar Mitrovic and Rolando Aarons.

And, it if it had not become evident to fans already that Benitez simply does not fancy Mitrovic, the Serbian has made only six substitute appearances for a combined total gametime of 89 minutes - less than a full match. Only Aarons (50) and Paul Dummett, who was injured just seven minutes into the opening game of the season and has not featured since, have seen less gametime.

Given his recent omissions from the starting line-up and his suspension earlier in the season, it perhaps will not come as a surprise either to hear that Jonjo Shelvey (747) has played fewer minutes than fellow midfielders Mikel Merino (885) and Hayden.

Interestingly, Dwight Gayle (648) has played almost 400 minutes fewer than Joselu, who is the most-frequently-used forward at United.

Number of minutes each Newcastle United player has featured for in Premier League (2017/18)

Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United
Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United

Matt Ritchie - 1,377 mins (16 starts)

Javier Manquillo - 1,170 mins (13 starts)

Rob Elliot - 1,170 mins (13 starts)

Ciaran Clark - 1,115 mins (12 starts, 1 sub)

Ayoze Perez - 1,027 mins (12 starts, 3 sub)

Joselu - 1,021 mins (13 starts, 1 sub)

Isaac Hayden - 1,008 mins (12 starts, 3 sub)

DeAndre Yedlin - 995 mins (11 starts, 1 sub)

Jamaal Lascelles - 948 mins (10 starts, 1 sub)

Christian Atsu - 941 mins (10 starts, 2 sub)

Mikel Merino - 885 mins (9 starts, 4 sub)

Florian Lejeune - 844 mins (10 starts)

Jonjo Shelvey - 747 mins (8 starts, 4 sub)

Dwight Gayle - 648 mins (7 starts, 6 sub)

Chancel Mbemba - 589 mins (6 starts, 1 sub)

Jacob Murphy - 490 mins (6 starts, 5 sub)

Mo Diame - 312 mins (3 starts, 7 sub)

Karl Darlow - 270 mins (3 starts)

Jesus Gamez - 97 mins (1 start, 1 sub)

Aleksandar Mitrovic - 89 mins (0 starts, 6 sub)

Rolando Aarons - 50 mins (0 starts, 2 sub)

Paul Dummett - 7 mins (1 start)