McClaren irked after Cisse skipped Magpies meeting

Papiss Cisse reportedly angered Steve McClaren by not turning up for a Newcastle team meeting – before a poor performance against West Ham.

McClaren arranged one-on-one meetings with all of the Newcastle players that remained at the club during the recent international break, and Cisse was the only player that failed to show up, according to the Daily Mail.

McClaren and his staff are understandably said to have been ‘angered’ by the Senegal star’s attitude, although the meeting was later rearranged ‘with great difficulty’.

However, such are Newcastle’s lack of strike options that McClaren was forced to start Cisse at West Ham on Monday night, with Aleksandar Mitrovic suspended.

Cisse’s performance at Upton Park certainly did not impress Magpies legend Alan Shearer.

“I looked at Cisse and thought Newcastle would’ve been better with 10 men,” Shearer told beIn Sports. “And it’s not just Cisse. (Florian) Thauvin showed nothing.

“[There was] not enough hunger from Newcastle to win. West Ham had more drive and pace. At no point did I ever think they’d win.”