OPINION
There’s no disputing that Christian Atsu has endured a tough time on Tyneside since making his loan move from Chelsea permanent, but the Newcastle United star is now breathing new life into a Magpies career that appeared dead and buried.
The Ghana international couldn’t get a sniff of the first team a month ago, a victim of his own inconsistency over the past season or so, but in recent weeks the 26-year-old has proven just why manager Rafael Benitez brought him to St James’ Park in the first place.
He has made three starts in a row since replacing the suspended Matt Ritchie against Everton at the start of this month, and has excelled with a number of fine displays.
The fact that Benitez has kept faith with the at-times maddening Atsu over the steady-Eddie approach of Ritchie shows that the manager values the attacking impetus that the Ghanian provides.
The most telling aspect of Atsu’s performances over the last three games has been his work rate, however. He is shouldering a defensive burden that he previously never cared for, while becoming more accurate and efficient with his passing.
The fact that he has become a more reliable option for Benitez is no doubt why the Spaniard continues to turn to him over his other options on the wing.
This turnaround from the former Chelsea man, on a reported £30,000-a-week at St James’ Park [Source: Spotrac], is remarkable when you consider his status at the club mere months ago. He appeared to be ostracised from the starting line up indefinitely, with no hope of ousting either Ritchie or Kenedy.
The winger must now be considered one of the first names on the team sheet for Benitez, though. He certainly offers more consistency than the scattergun Kenedy.
So credit must be given to Atsu for rescuing a Newcastle career that looked to be on the fast track to nowhere. It’s down to hard work and perseverance that he’s succeeded in breaking back into the Magpies team, and he now looks set to command a first team spot for some time to come.