Former Premier League star 'trapped under the rubble' after earthquake in Turkey

The former Chelsea and Newcastle winger, now at Super Lig side Hatayspor, is claimed to be missing with a search and rescue operation underway.

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According to Turkish news outlet Star, Atsu - along with club sporting director Taner Savut - were caught up in the natural disaster in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor are based.

They have stated that two players from Hatayspor - Burak Oksuz and Bertug Yildirim - were rescued from the rubble.

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And two members of the technical team - Ekrem Eksioglu and Osman Ates - also survived the wreckage with their health said to be good.

However Atsu, who only joined the side last summer from Saudi side Al-Raed, and Savut are yet to be found as rescue teams look for the pair.

Ghana international Atsu joined Chelsea in 2013, where he was shipped off on loan spells to Everton and Bournemouth, along with Vitesse, Malaga and Newcastle.

The Magpies turned his temporary stay into a permanent switch in 2017 after Atsu helped the Toon win the Championship title.

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He stayed at the club until 2021, before making the move to the Middle East where he then returned to Europe last year to link up with Hatayspor.

Newcastle have taken to social media to state they hope Atsu is found alive and well, as they tweeted: "Praying for some positive news Christian Atsu."

Atsu had only scored his first goal for the club this weekend prior to the earthquake hitting in a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa.

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Turkish newspaper Haberturk have stated that Hatayspor midfielder Onur Ergun and club translator Emre have also not been reached.

Meanwhile Yeni Malatyaspor goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan has tragically lost his life after being found under the rubble.

Yilmaz Vural, manager of the second-tier outfit, said: "I gave the team two days off after the [Rizespor] game.

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"Many players were not in Malatya. Only our second goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, was there.

"They saved his wife… I am devastated."

As of yet, it has been reported that over 1,000 people are feared to have died in the earthquake that struck the country at around 4am on Monday morning.

And experts have claimed that figure could rise to as high as 10,000 people after Turkey was hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake shortly after.