Rafael Benitez and Allan Saint-Maximin lead Premier League tributes to Christian Atsu

Rafael Benitez and Eddie Howe have paid tribute to Christian Atsu, who has died following the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

Former Newcastle midfielder Atsu's death was announced on Twitter today by his agent Nana Sechere, who said the player’s body has been found 12 days on from the disaster, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

Former Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez, who spent just over three years in charge at St James’ Park until 2019, said he had been in contact with his former player last month.

Benitez told Sky Sports: "I was in contact with him last month. We were sharing some messages – it’s very difficult for me to express in English – but I was feeling so bad and I was trying to contact him.

"Also, I don’t want to forget the rest of the people because there are a lot of people that have been in a really difficult time and I think we have to help in a way and today we have to remember Christian. Really sad."

Benitez added: "It’s really sad because he was a nice, nice, special person. He was a good professional. I don’t talk about if he’s a good player or not, he was a nice lad and a good player, but especially a really nice person.

"So a special person and everybody always, you can see the pictures, always with a smile playing or not playing."

Current Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said before his side’s home Premier League game against Liverpool that his thoughts and prayers were with Atsu.

Howe said: "We’re treating it as the tragedy that it is, giving him our thoughts and our prayers and to his family as well. We want to support them in this moment."

Atsu spent nearly five years at Newcastle after joining from Chelsea, initially on loan, in 2016 and his ex-team-mate Allan Saint-Maximin described