91Èȱ¬

New Portsmouth signing Matt Ritchie says he will "give everything to make the team better" this season, after returning for his second spell at Fratton Park.

Ritchie may be best known for his time at Bournemouth and Newcastle as well as some impressive goals in the Premier League, but Portsmouth is where it all started for the now 34-year-old.

"I have some great memories with this club but I want to park that for now," Ritchie told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Solent.

"The future of this club is what matters. I’m not here to reminisce, I’m here to play football and win games, that’s my main ambition because I want to add to this team and football club. I’ll fight for the badge.

"My main focus is supporting the team and making it better. I’ll give everything to do that."

Ritchie made 13 appearances last season for Newcastle in the Premier League, scoring on one occasion, the majority of those minutes coming in the final moments of games off the bench.

A new challenge awaits the Gosport-born man, with Portsmouth returning to the second tier after 12 years away.

The 46-game Championship season can be gruelling and testing on the body but Ritchie will be aiming to be as involved as much as he can this campaign.

Leeds United await on Saturday and Portsmouth will be aiming to beat the side that did not quite have enough to stop the Blues' bitter rivals Southampton from winning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs last season.

"It’s a decision for the manager rather than myself if I play," Ritchie added.

"Games like this on on Saturday is one of the reasons why the boys worked so hard last season.

"We’ll go there with a plan to try and win the game, we want to get off to a good start and then kick on. Who knows where we could end up."