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Can Papiss Cisse be the man to save Newcastle's season?

With the help of Rafa Benitez's second-half substitutions, which included both Papiss Cisse and Siem de Jong, Newcastle kept themselves at arms reach of Premier League survival with a late equaliser from Aleksandar Mitrovic against Sunderland.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Mar 2016, 14:19 BST- 2 min read
Updated 2nd Apr 2016, 01:43 BST
Papiss CissePapiss Cisse
Papiss Cisse

But can either player make a positive mark in the next eight cup final games?

With just 29 goals scored all season (nine of those coming from Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum), Newcastle are desperate to add another striker to the team with a goalscoring history, and Cisse could be that man.

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Papiss Cisse came off the bench against SunderlandPapiss Cisse came off the bench against Sunderland
Papiss Cisse came off the bench against Sunderland

The Senegalese striker’s season has been tormented by a groin injury, with just eight starts this campaign – netting in games against Southampton way back in August, and then again against Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace in a game we all want to forget ever happened.

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Cisse has many critics amongst the Newcastle fan base, many claiming he quite simply isn’t good enough and spends most of the game in an offside position, but I tend to disagree with those statements.

Cisse has been a great player for United, giving us many great memories over the last few years.

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So why can’t he score the goals needed to keep the club in the top flight of English football?

Papiss Cisse came off the bench against SunderlandPapiss Cisse came off the bench against Sunderland
Papiss Cisse came off the bench against Sunderland

I’ve always been a massive fan of Papiss ever since his arrival on Tyneside.

He brought a smile to the supporters’ faces during his warm up before his home debut against Aston Villa – when Shola Ameobi heading towards the Leazes End to rescue Cisse as his warm-up sprints carried him behind the goal as he lapped up the welcome from the watching fans at St James’s Park.

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And this was before his half-volley shot found itself nestled in the top corner of the Villa net.

Last season saw the striker score 11 goals in 22 league appearances, making it a goal every other game – a stat that any goalscorer should be more than happy with.

Fingers crossed that Cisse can now recreate with Mitrovic the strong partnership that he had with his Senegalese national team-mate Demba Ba back in the 2011/12 season.

We have just eight games left now – eight games to stay in the Premier League, and eight games to keep the best manager United have appointed since Sir Bobby Robson at the club for the foreseeable future.

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Papiss can certainly play his part.