Papiss Cisse future to be decided by Saturday?
The future of Papiss Cisse future could well be decided by Saturday.
While Newcastle United have exited the FA Cup and picked up only one point out of nine in the Premier League, the striker hasn’t exactly been playing it for laughs either.
Only eight days after their African Cup of Nations campaign started, Senegal were eliminated yesterday with defeat by Algeria.
Cisse had sat out the first two matches and then finally got his chance with 36 minutes yesterday, already trailing 1-0 the introduction of the Newcastle forward made no difference with Algeria doubling their lead before the end.
Exactly why Senegal’s top striker had been left out is unknown, though in response to him not playing some pundits had speculated rather bizarrely that Senegal were keeping him for the later stages.
Struggling through their first two matches, Senegal used six substitutes in total but not Papiss Cisse amongst them, leading to worries that ongoing problems with his knee could be the reason, Alan Pardew having said a number of times that the striker wouldn’t be properly fit until next season at the earliest.
Whatever the reasons for the inaction, there is no reason surely why Papiss Cisse won’t be back in time and available for Hull on Saturday.
In the background of course we have had repeated speculation that a number of clubs are interested in taking Papiss Cisse this January and who could blame them, with the Newcastle striker currently having the best average goal per minutes average in the Premier League, with nine goals from limited opportunities.
Many of us will feel the writing is on the wall as with only eighteen months left on his contract and turning thirty in the summer, Mike Ashley will for sure see a depreciating asset if he doesn’t sell him now.
If Papiss Cisse is involved at Hull on Saturday then I think he’ll be here at least until the summer but I have a feeling we will once again hear Mike Ashley’s cash till ringing before then, having already banked close to £10m by ‘selling’ Alan Pardew and the deal that went through for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa yesterday.
Cheick Tiote could also be on his way home shortly, the Ivory Coast play their final group match at 6pm today (UK time) against Cameroon and all four countries in the group are tied on two points.
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