Thomas Partey grabs assist in Atletico Madrid’s rout of Sporting Gijon

Thomas Partey earned an assist in his first game for Atletico Madrid since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, as they won 4-1 away at Sporting Gijon on Saturday afternoon.

The Ghana midfielder put a ball through for Kevin Gameiro to score the team’s third and his second of the day on his way to an impressive hat trick in six minutes at the Estadio Municipal El Molinón.

Partey was a 68th minute substitute for Yannick Carrasco, who had sent the visitors into the lead on 46 minutes. Gijon clawed back with a Sergio Alvarez equalizer and coach Diego Simeone was forced to make a raft of changes in order to secure victory.

The Argentinean manager threw on Saul, Gameiro and Partey in the space of six minutes and they were effective in changing the complexion of the game, with the Frenchman going on to notch his hat trick with goals in the 80th, 81st and 85th minutes.

This assist should be a shot in the arm for Partey who has seen just 40 minutes of action in the 2016/17 La Liga campaign.