Allan Saint-Maximin, Rafa Benitez and Eddie Howe pay tribute to Christian Atsu

Eddie Howe, Allan Saint-Maximin and Rafa Benítez have paid tribute to Christian Atsu, who tragically passed away earlier this week following the earthquakes in Turkey.

Newcastle take on Liverpool tonight, at St James’ Park, where there will be a minute’s silence in memory of former Magpies winger Atsu. His wife and his three young children will be in St. James’s Park tonight.

The Ghanaian played for the club between 2017 and 2021, making 121 appearances and scoring eight times for the north-western side.

Speaking before the match, Howe said: ‘Yes, it’s a real tragedy for Christian and his family.

“I woke up to the news and was really devastated. Many players in our locker room played with it, I made reference to that in my pre-match conversation with the players.”

Eddie Howe, Allan Saint-Maximin and Rafa Benítez have paid tribute to Christian Atsu

A minute’s silence was observed in St James’s Park in tribute to Atsu, who passed away this week.

Atsu tragically passed away after the earthquakes in Turkey last week

Meanwhile, Allan Saint-Maximin recalled a story of how he was welcomed to the club by Atsu when he joined Newcastle.

He said: ‘It’s a really sad day for Newcastle and the players. Most of the players know him well, he was a great guy and we had a great time with him. It is very painful. Some things are hard for me, I will never forget it.

“It’s hard to explain, I’ll tell you the truth, when I came to Newcastle he was always giving me advice, a very nice guy, always joking and smiling every day.” He was a great person. I know him… it’s a hard day for me. I will try to do my best and think of him and do my best.

Atsu’s manager at Newcastle, Benítez, was an expert before the game and also paid tribute to the striker.

Howe said that “it was a tragedy” and that he was “really devastated to hear the news”.

Meanwhile, Allan Saint-Maximin recalled a story of how Atsu welcomed him to Newcastle.

“Yes, obviously very sad,” Benítez said. I was following the news for a while because they said he was fine. I was in contact with a former player and he said he felt it would be bad news.

“He was a special person who was a good professional, a good guy, a great player. He always had a smile. Really sad for him and everyone involved, sad news.

“I was in contact with him last month, we had some messages. I was very bad… it is difficult for me in English, I felt so bad.

“I was talking to a former player in Turkey today… obviously I don’t want to forget about the rest of the people who are going through a difficult time.” Very sad.’