PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB NEWCASTLE UNITED have said they are 'praying for some positive news' after it was reported that their former player Christian Atsu was one of the people potentially trapped under rubble of a destroyed building following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Turkey last weekend.
The 31-year-old Ghana international played 75 times for Newcastle between 2016 and 2021. He also played for the likes of Chelsea, Everton and Bournemouth in England before leaving to join other clubs.
Atsu now plays for Hataysport in Antakya in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Hatayspor is the main club in Hatay, one of the cities affected by the 7.5 quake that has killed at least 2,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
Around 1700 people are known to have died in the border region with rescue teams searching for survivors.
Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20. 🙏🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/HQT6yZOmRB
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 6, 2023
Atsu, who scored deep into stoppage time on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa is one said to be one of the people effected by the disaster.
His former club Newcastle tweeted out, "Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”
The Ghana FA also said in a Tweet that "We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria."
"We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hatayspor and the Turkish Football Federation, considering the difficult situation," it added.
A search and rescue operation is set to be underway for Ghanaian international
Two of his team-mates as well as members of the technical staff were said to have been pulled out of the rubble, but Atsu has not been found yet claims the Daily Mail
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