Vogts - "very impressed" by forgotten man

By 4two
January 29 2004

Scottish boss Berti Vogts has said he is very impressed with Paul Ritchie and can't understand how or why he has been forgotten.

Vogts has told the press.....

"I have been looking to strengthen my defence but did not know anything about Ritchie's qualifications or career.

"No-one told me about him and it wasn't until his name was mentioned a few weeks ago that I even knew he had scored for Scotland against the Czech Republic in 1999.

"I can't understand how or why he was forgotten maybe it was because he was out injured for so long.

"But I immediately arranged to watch him in action against West Brom a fortnight ago and was very impressed."

"I will be calling him into the squad for the game with Wales and he has a great chance of being involved. He is strong, quick and very passionate and I like that in my players."

The call up is certainly deserved as Ritchie has been in fine form since he joined the Saddlers. It is no secret that other clubs have been taking a look at him. Leicester, Sunderland and West Ham are all thought to have had him watched within the last couple months. 

Ritchie has the temperament to play at a higher level, and we all seem to know that his time with us will be short. Hopefully he will stay till the end of the season, but an international call up is going to showcase his talents to a wider audience.