Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has been handed an injury blow ahead of this weekend’s clash with Watford with the news that winger Christian Atsu will miss the tie at St James Park.
The 25-year-old former Chelsea and Porto star suffered a groin injury whilst on international duty with Ghana earlier in the month, and will have to sit out the weekend’s action to continue his rehabilitation.
Atsu also missed the Magpie’s previous game with the same injury, a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Before suffering his injury, Atsu had established himself as one of Rafael Benitez’s key men in the early stages of the season, starting all 10 of Newcastle’s previous Premier League fixtures, registering 1 goal and 1 assist.
No official date for the Ghanian’s return is yet to be announced.
Benitez may also be without Mikel Merino for the weekend’s clash, with the Spaniard still recovering from a back injury sustained at Selhurst Park last month, whilst club captain Jamaal Lascelles is likely to miss out too.
