{"id":2416,"date":"2019-09-01T13:18:59","date_gmt":"2019-09-01T13:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/ghana\/?p=2416"},"modified":"2019-09-01T13:18:59","modified_gmt":"2019-09-01T13:18:59","slug":"christian-atsu-proves-he-can-be-the-missing-spark-newcastle-need-off-the-bench","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/ghana\/all-news\/christian-atsu-proves-he-can-be-the-missing-spark-newcastle-need-off-the-bench","title":{"rendered":"Christian Atsu proves he can be the missing spark Newcastle need off the bench"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle fans have only seen fleeting glimpses of what Christian Atsu is capable of. He\u2019s often struggled to find form since he became a permanent Magpie for \u00a36.2 million in 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But since the Ghanaian has overcome a hamstring injury, picked up during the Africa Cup Of Nations in the summer, he has made a significant impact in both games he has come off the substitute bench for.<\/p>\n

Having had minimal training, he entered the fray early in the win at Tottenham, after replacing Allan Saint-Maximin when he aggravated a hamstring injury, with his energetic performance changing the game for Newcastle.<\/p>\n

Again on Wednesday, when he replaced the injured Matt Ritchie just before half-time, his appearance saw an upturn in Newcastle\u2019s fortunes, and much of that was down to the display from the diminutive Ghanaian.<\/p>\n

He has certainly looked a different player to the one who struggled to make any impression last season, and who knows, maybe finally we can see the real Atsu.<\/p>\n

Having someone to come off the bench that a manager can depend on is a luxury that has been missing in Newcastle squads in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

But Atsu looks like he could be that man, with his impact being hugely influential during the early weeks.<\/p>\n

Considering this has all been achieved with just a few days of full training, it could be that once fully fit, this could finally be Atsu\u2019s time at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n

He may have to show his \u2018super-sub\u2019 form from the outset on Saturday, however, with the number of injuries taking its toll on the squad, meaning Atsu could be in line to start the game against Watford.<\/p>\n

If he can show the same form for a full 90 minutes, fans may start to believe that Atsu is finally realising the potential he has always promised.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope he does, and helps Newcastle to another three points ahead of the impending international break.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Newcastle fans have only seen fleeting glimpses of what Christian Atsu is capable of. He\u2019s often struggled to find form since he became a permanent Magpie for \u00a36.2 million in 2017. But since the Ghanaian has overcome a hamstring injury, picked up during the Africa Cup Of Nations in the summer, he has made a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":2417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[226,1544,1543],"class_list":["post-2416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-christian-atsu","tag-need-off-the-bench","tag-newcastle"],"yoast_head":"\nChristian Atsu proves he can be the missing spark Newcastle need off the bench - Ghana<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Newcastle fans have only seen fleeting glimpses of what Christian Atsu is capable of. 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