Newcastle step up striker hunt after losing Cisse for a month

Papiss Cisse: Facing new injury misery

Papiss Cisse: Facing new injury misery

Newcastle’s search for striking reinforcements has taken a new twist after it emerged that Papiss Cisse will be sidelined for a month after undergoing surgery.

It is understood the 30-year-old Senegal international will be out for four to five weeks after having a procedure to address the groin problem which has seen him miss the last five games.

Head coach Steve McClaren revealed last week that Cisse had returned to training after a third opinion on the injury which suggested he may not require an operation, but warned that could prove not to be the case.

Cisse’s absence means summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored his fourth goal for the club in Tuesday night’s 3-3 Premier league draw with Manchester United, remains the Magpies’ only fit specialist striker.

They have been tracking a series of possible additions in that department in recent weeks, but with Chelsea’s Loic Remy and QPR’s Charlie Austin now looking unlikely potential signings and Wolfsburg front man Bas Dost facing a six-week lay-off with a broken bone in his foot, the field has dwindled somewhat.

West Brom’s Saido Berahino is among a list of players whose situations are being monitored, but the Magpies are far from lone potential suitors.

McClaren has been boosted this week by the addition of midfielders Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet to his squad, although there is speculation that Cheick Tiote could leave as a result, with Shanghai Shenhua on his trail.

But the goals Newcastle scored against Manchester United were their first in five games in all competitions and added strike-power is a major focus for the club’s recruitment wing.