Winger Christian Atsu was dropped from the latest Ghana squad to face Ethiopia in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier due to injury, it has emerged.

The 25-year-old was a conspicuous omission in Kwesi Appiah’s first Black Stars squad on his return to the job.

Another very surprising omission was Mubarak Wakaso.

Atsu’s exclusion however was the biggest shock especially as he comes off one of his most productive seasons in club football with Newcastle.

The former FC Porto man played a key role in helping the Magpies regain promotion to the Premier League.

Atsu’s sterling performance earned him a permanent four-year move to Necastle to end his nightmare at Chelsea.

It has however emerged the skillful forward picked up an injury in his final outing for Newcastle.

A report in UK’s newspaper the Chronicle attributed Atsu’s exclusion from next month’s international activity to injury even though the type of injury was not specified.

Atsu is currently on holiday in Hamburg with his family having made a brief stop in Portugal.

Ghana will take on Ethiopia in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Black Stars will also play friendly games against the USA and Mexico in the upcoming FIFA international dates.