The Ghana winger Christian Atsu was dropped by Kwesi Appiah due to an injury he s nursing, according to reports.
Atsu was very instrumental in helping Newcastle secure qualification back to the English Premier League, after bagging five goals in 32 appearances for the Magpies.
The 25-year-old, who signed a four year permanent deal with Newcastle was left out of Kwesi Appiah's 32-man squad for Ghana's AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia.
READ MORE: Christian Atsu seals four-year deal with Newcastle
And according to reports Christian was dropped because he has undergone surgery and would require four weeks to return to full fitness and that was the reason that influenced Appiah's decision to excuse him.
Christian Atsu was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and was also named in the team of the tournament for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.