Atsu on target for Newcastle

Ghana international Christian Atsu scored his third league goal of the season as Newcastle United picked a 2-0 away victory over Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

The Championship encounter at the DW Stadium was the winger's 12th topflight game of the campaign.

Mohamed Diame put the Magpies in front in the 26th minute, scoring against his former club.

The Senegalese played a neat one-two with Isaac Hayden before gliding into the box and calmly placing the ball to the right of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Atsu, having replaced Matt Ritchie on 69 minutes, consolidated Newcastle's lead nine minutes later.

The 24-year-old was picked out by Yoan Gouffran in the box, and made no mistake with his shot from close range.

Rafael Benitez's side have, thus, moved back to the top of the table, having been overtaken by Brighton and Hove Albion a day earlier.

Atsu joined Newcastle in August on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

He had spent the second half of the previous season at Spanish outfit Malaga for whom he scored twice in 12 La Liga games.

Atsu is expected to be away on national duty with Ghana at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations which runs between January 14 and February 5.