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Atsu must be frozen out

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Image for Atsu must be frozen out

OPINION

Rafa Benitez must freeze out Newcastle United attacker Christian Atsu after he wasted his chance to shine against Southampton on Saturday.

The Spanish manager opted to bring on the winger, who earns £30,000-a-week at St James Park (Source: Spotrac), in the 79th minute of the 0-0 draw with the Saints in order to attempt to turn the game in his favour.

Despite the match screaming out for an attack-minded player like Atsu to take it by the scruff of the neck, the winger’s only memorable moment came near the final whistle when he picked up a yellow card.

Given that Atsu is meant to be a player who has pace and skill in order to change a game in his side’s favour, his cameo was rather disappointing as he looked like being just another passenger for his more enthusiastic teammates to carry.

This isn’t the first time this season that the winger has let his side down as he has struggled in all seven of his outings across all competitions.

Atsu only briefly stood out for all the right reasons against Leicester City as he was impressive for perhaps a half at best, though that isn’t good enough when the Magpies are struggling.

Given that Benitez has handed the winger chance after chance but he has wasted them, it’s time the manager freezes him out of his first-team plans completely.

While the manager isn’t drowning in options he does have the likes of Jacob Murphy as well as any potential starlet who has shown promise in the academy to call upon, so Atsu can be afforded to be binned.

Therefore after yet again wasting a golden chance to shine, it’s time for Benitez to freeze Atsu out as the winger is just clearly not good enough for the first-team.

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