By Ameenu Shardow
Ex Ghana star Nii Odartey Lamptey has warned against the persistent use of Christian Atsu in order to avoid pre-mature burn out.
The 20-year-old has emerged the new toast of Ghanaian soccer fans after thrilling them with his skills and trickery in the Black Stars' 2-0 win over Malawi in the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier.
The FC Porto winger was again in action for Ghana in the friendly defeat to Liberia three days after lasting the full duration in the AFCON qualifier.
And Lamptey who himself burst onto the scene as an exciting prospect but never realised his full potential says Atsu needs to be guided from playing too many games his young body cannot contain.
"The coaches; Akwasi Appiah and Maxwell Konadu have to manage him (Atsu) very well. He should not be made to play all Black Stars matches," he told Accra-based Radio Gold.
"He is very talented but he needs to be guided and supported. This is Ghana, today they will be hailing you but the same people will be criticizing you if things don't go well."
Atsu has since returned to Portugal to resume club duties where he is expected to feature heavily for Porto this term.