Feature: Christian Atsu can take Bournemouth higher in English Premier League

Published on: 15 December 2015
Feature: Christian Atsu can take Bournemouth higher in English Premier League
Ghana's Christian Atsu (L) vies with Guinea's Kevin Constant (R) during the 2015 African Cup of Nations quarter-final football match between Ghana and Guinea in Malabo on February 1, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Image Credit: Bwin News

In Premier League play, Bournemouth has had a pretty sensational run of it in December. They opened the month with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which perhaps didn't get quite the attention it ordinarily would have.

And that's because Chelsea is in the midst of some thoroughly publicized struggles and has lost to a number of lesser teams. However, that takes nothing away from the fact that Eddie Howe's newly promoted club took care of business against the defending champions in London.

Just a week later, Bournemouth hosted Manchester United at Dean Court and came away with a 2-1 victory that was, if anything, more impressive than the Chelsea result. The opening goal for Bournemouth was arguably somewhat fortunate, but the club showed remarkable form and spirit in the aftermath. They looked, at least for that day, like the superior team. That win helped Bournemouth rise to 14th in the EPL standings, a few points above the dreaded relegation zone at the bottom.

It was one of the most impressive weeks not just in Bournemouth's history but for any club in the Premier League this season. And the fascinating thing is that the club may well reach greater heights given that they've come this far with hardly a glimpse of prized Chelsea loan Christian Atsu.

Plagued by a stress fracture in his shin (which can unfortunately be a very uncomfortable, nagging injury), Atsu has made only two appearances for the Cherries on the season. He has recently been spending some time back with his parent club for treatment, and perhaps it is for the best he didn't have to be part of the awkwardness of beating the very team that loaned him out. But there are some reports that Atsu could be back in action as soon as the beginning of January, and he resumed some light training in preparation for the return.

Atsu doesn't figure to dramatically change the complexion of Bournemouth when he takes the field, and frankly he's not well-suited to help with the biggest issue the Cherries have had: stopping opponents' attacks. The 31 goals allowed by Bournemouth through 16 matches are tied with Newcastle for the most in the league, and Atsu is not known for helping out a great deal on the defensive side of the midfield. However, the Cherries have been fairly efficient on the attack, and Atsu can help them to press that existing advantage. He should add even more stability and control to the midfield, and perhaps allow the Cherries to more effectively dictate the terms of their matches.

We'll see how it all plays out, but if he is indeed ready to return in a matter of weeks, Christian Atsu could play a significant role in propelling Bournemouth toward the middle of the tables in its first season since being promoted.

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