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Boss Backing Cisse To Follow Torres Example
Written by Newcastle Utd
Chelsea arrive on Tyneside at the weekend with Fernando Torres back in form, and Alan Pardew wants Papiss Cisse to take inspiration from the Spaniard
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
If Papiss Cisse needs some inspiration to end his current dry spell in front of goal, he won't need to look too far on Saturday when Newcastle host Chelsea.
The Senegalese striker is still looking for his first Barclays Premier League goal of the season and had another frustrating evening against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.
After a goalless 90 minutes, the match went to extra time and Cisse was presented with a great opportunity when his movement sprung the visitors' offside trap but saw his effort blocked by Costel Pantilimon.
Within minutes, clinical duo Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko scored to knock United out - but Magpies boss Alan Pardew is backing his number nine to rediscover his scoring touch sooner rather than later.
And he has urged Cisse to follow the lead of Chelsea's Fernando Torres, who scored twice against Schalke in the Champions League last week before netting a late winner, ironically against City, at the weekend.
The Spaniard looks to be back to his best after largely struggling for form since his switch from Liverpool nearly three years ago and Pardew knows that, like so many attackers, Cisse is at his best when playing with confidence.
"I think it affected Papiss, that particular chance," the Newcastle manager told nufcTV.
"He always gives everything for us but that seemed to hurt him, that he didn't take that chance.
"He wasn't quite the same after that. But that's what it's like for strikers and he's got to keep going.
"And if there's ever an example of coming out of this spell, it's Torres who's suddenly come alive. We've got to hope that happens for Papiss."
Despite bowing out of the cup, Pardew was pleased with the performances of several players on Wednesday - although he was disappointed to lose both Massadio Haidara and Paul Dummett to injury.
"I think individually it was an important night for a few people," he said.
"Moussa (Sissoko) needed a good performance and he played well, Vurn (Anita) played well again and I thought that Massadio was terrific against (Jesus) Navas who's £30m or whatever he is.
"It's a shame we lost him. Bless him, since he's been here it's been one thing after another and it must be so frustrating for him."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Alan Pardew