Atsu notched another assist in the 3-1 defeat against Liverpool and having failed to create a single goal last season, the 27-year-old is focused on building on a good start to the campaign.
“I’m very happy that I’m playing and starting games. What’s important is that I need to keep focused and then try to help my team, to assist and also to win some games for the team. This comes with consistency,"
p:nth-of-type(6)","type":"performPlaceholder","relativePos":"after"}" data-placeholder-placeholder=" data-response-start="6204.500000007101" data-type="placeholder">“I didn’t do pre-season. I went to the AFCON and in the second game I got injured. I had to just focus on the injury and when I came back, I felt much better and also my knee [felt better] from the surgery that I had.
"This game is behind me. I’m just going to focus and work hard and make sure that this season, I believe, I’m going to be consistent."
Off the ball, Atsu has relished the responsibility of pressing opposition defenders higher up the pitch in a slightly more advanced role in Bruce's 3-4-2-1 formation.
“I’m very happy. He gives us a lot of freedom," Atsu added. "I’m very happy with the system that we’re playing. I need to keep going and help the team.”