Papiss Cisse set for surgery and lengthy lay-off at Newcastle

The striker has been sidelined since before Christmas with a groin problem.

And head coach Steve McClaren was hopeful Cisse would not need an operation which would rule him out for "two to three" months.

McClaren revealed last week that Cisse had made a tentative return to the training field.

“We’ve had second and third opinions,” said McClaren, whose relegation-threatened side take on West Ham United at St James's Park on Saturday.

“They have said ‘an operation is that length of time, but you could try it and see how it goes. If it goes, you’ll have the operation’.

“So he has stepped up, stepped up and stepped up.

"The injury is complicated. It has surprised me. It’s a groin strain. How severe we’ll find out probably the middle of next week."

However, Cisse will now undergo surgery which will rule him out for months.

McClaren has just one fit senior striker – Aleksandar Mitrovic – available until one or more striking reinforcements arrive in this month's transfer window, though Ayoze Perez and Siem de Jong can also play up front.

Mitrovic scored from the penalty spot in Tuesday night's 3-3 draw with Manchester United.

The result ended a run of four successive 1-0 defeats.

Newcastle remain in the relegation zone ahead of the West Ham game.