Newcastle United midfielder Mohamed Diame has told the club's official website that he was impressed with the goalscoring cameo appearance of Christian Atsu on Wednesday night.
The Magpies were already leading Wigan Athletic 1-0 thanks to Diame's first-half strike when Atsu came off the bench to double the lead just nine minutes after he entered the game.
That was Atsu's third goal of the season since joining Newcastle on loan from Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
Though his previous two goals had come when he was named int he starting XI, eight of the Ghanaian's 12 appearances for the Tyneside club in the Championship have come from the bench.
Diame hailed the impact of the 24-year-old entering the game midway through the second half, and believes his energy and direct approach against a tiring Latics defence helped his team on to victory.
Diame told the club's website: "Christian did well to bring his legs into the game for us, and he did well to get the second goal.
"When he came on he gave us runs in behind the defenders and that helped us all, it helped the team. His finish was a great one as well, so that was good for the team and now we just need to keep going."
Atsu's goal sealed a 2-0 win which catapulted Newcastle back to the top of the Championship table ahead of their trip to Burton Albion this weekend.