After Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it 2-1, Newcastle needed a lift from the bench. Steve Bruce turned to Christian Atsu and Dwight Gayle to change the game, but that didn’t happen at all.
The double substitution failed to spark the Magpies into life, who ended the game in messy fashion despite playing some nice football at times in the first half.
Atsu was particularly bad when he came on, somehow ending the game at left-back after Jetro Willems went off. The Ghanaian couldn’t keep the ball, struggling to do anything positive in his 20 minutes on the pitch.
While he’s had the odd moment of brilliance in a Toon shirt, a lot of Atsu’s career at St James’ Park has been underwhelming. When Allan Saint-Maximin gets on the ball, you expect him to do something. When Atsu gets possession, you don’t expect a thing.
Bruce needed to make changes to give his side a lift against Everton, but his options on the bench were pretty much nonexistent. Newcastle’s lack of depth has been exposed over the festive period.
Atsu has had a lot of chances at Newcastle, and some fans would rather see the back of him…
Newcastle fans weren’t impressed with Atsu against Everton
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