Atsu return to Newcastle United Premier League squad

Ghana international Christian Atsu has been handed a career lifeline by Newcastle United – after being restored to the Magpies’ Premier League squad.

The winger was frozen out of the squad for the first half of the season, and after Newcastle failed to sign a senior player on deadline day, Atsu has been handed the spare space made available by DeAndre Yedlin’s departure to Galatasaray.

Newcastle made the decision to release Achraf Lazaar on a free transfer yesterday after coming to a financial settlement and talks with Henri Saivet for a similar arrangement are said to be ongoing.

But Atsu will come back into the squad for the final 16 games of the season.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said on Friday: “Christian Atsu comes back into it.

“There’s only him or Henri Saivet to choose from so it was pretty straight-forward.”

Atsu has made one appearance this season in the League Cup in the 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers but played 24 times last season for Bruce.

His current deal runs out and makes him a free agent at the end of the season.

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