Pardew excited by Cisse signing

Alan Pardew has warned Newcastle's fans to strap themselves in for a high-octane ride as Papiss Demba Cisse prepares to make his Magpies debut.

Last Updated: 03/02/12 at 16:06 Post Comment   

Cisse: In training on Friday

Cisse: In training on Friday

The 26-year-old trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday morning following his return, along with leading scorer Demba Ba, from Senegal's short-lived African Nations Cup campaign.

Pardew would not be drawn on whether or not the pair with start in tandem against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, but he is confident his big-money January signing from Freiburg will make an impact once he does get his chance.

Asked what Cisse will bring to the Magpies, Pardew replied: "Single-minded goalscoring.

"I don't think he is going to hesitate to shoot, so whether he starts or whether he comes off the bench on Sunday, you are going to see a directness from him."

Cisse's arrival has been eagerly-anticipated since he put pen to paper during a whirlwind visit to Tyneside before heading off on international duty.

Even his new team-mates were eager to see what he could do when they got their first chance on Friday morning.

Pardew said: "Not all the boys did the full session, but they all stayed around and wanted to have a nose and see how he got on. I think he impressed one or two.

"The two guys coming in certainly will have buoyed everybody, and I know there will be a fantastic atmosphere at our place.

"Whether Cisse starts, whether Demba starts or whether they come off the bench, they are going to have an impact of some type, and I am looking forward to it.

"It's going to be a great day for us, hopefully."

Ba's 15 goals to date since his own arrival in the north-east during the summer mean he is almost certain to be asked to resume where he left off, but Cisse's lack of training with the squad, and the fact that Pardew's men won 2-0 at Blackburn on Wednesday evening, mean the manager faces some difficult, if pleasant, selection problems.

He said: "Everybody is pulling in the right direction here and everybody is putting a stint in, so it's great for me as the manager.

"I can almost pick any team and put them out there, and they are giving 100 per cent, and that's what you want.

"I was really, really pleased at Blackburn. It was a massive game for us.

"We had a lot of key players missing, and yet we still won, so I don't care what the criticism was - we didn't control the game, we didn't do this, we didn't do that - we won 2-0."

The victory at Ewood Park took Newcastle to the lofty heights of fifth place in the table to spark talk of Europe and perhaps more fancifully, a return to Champions League football.

While Pardew knows there is a long way to go, he is enjoying his club's period among the usual suspects in the higher echelons of English football.

He said: "We have been up there all year - we haven't been past seventh for a long time, so we have been in and around it.

"But we haven't gone away, we have nagged and kept knocking on the door, and one or two teams are always going to falter in form, and we have stayed pretty steady.

"I am hoping we can end the season like we started and hopefully bring European football to the club.

"But at the moment, the focus is Aston Villa.

"We actually performed very well at Aston Villa [earlier this season] and Shay Given, one of our old legends, kept us at bay, so I am hoping he doesn't play as well this week."

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xcellent decision, probably one of VERY few footballers who will be remembered as leaving the club after scoring the champions league winning goal with his very last kick! Not many get that tag in football!

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his is for the best, his hunger would be in serious question now after winning everything with us. A true Chelsea legend, up there with Osgood and Zola, come back and see us now and then Didier. And as Martin Tyler said on Saturday night....he is immortal at Chelsea. What a way to go out eh....Good luck big man wherever you land next.

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ne of the many delights of the final few seconds of the season was seeing little Mike Owen with his trackie off and full replica kit on, getting ready to celebrate having contributed NOTHING all season. Would have been on a par with Terry's carry-on in Munich.

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