Pardew pumped by Cisse signing

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said he was thrilled at completing the signing of former Freiburg front man Papiss Demba Cisse.

The Senegalese forward completed the move from the Bundesliga outfit on Tuesday for an undisclosed fee, and is set to wear the club’s iconic number nine shirt vacated by Andy Carroll 12 months ago.

The Magpies boss was quick to speak of the player’s quality and the exciting prospect of him teaming up with the squad when he returns from international duty at the African Cup of Nations.

“To join him with players like (Yohan) Cabaye, Demba (Ba) and (Hatem) Ben Arfa – it really does look exciting now,” Pardew told the club’s official website.

“He was the second-top goal scorer in the Bundesliga last year and he’s had a good return already this year, so he’s in good form.”

“He’s a player who plays off the shoulder and wants to go in behind, but he’s got a little bit more to his game than that.”

“He’s a good age, in the prime of his career, and has been under pressure in his career, so will understand it. He will attack it in an honest way, he is an honest footballer and our fans appreciate that.”

“I really hope the fans are going to love him.”

The signing came as a surprise at the Sports Direct Arena, with Pardew recently suggesting the club would not sign a striker until the summer, and the 50-year-old believes Cisse’s arrival will provide healthy competition between the side’s other forwards.

“It is going to be interesting to see how everyone evolves now,” he said.

“Players like Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands, Shola (Ameobi) – there is good pressure on them to produce, and that is what the big clubs are all about.”

“You want to bring in new players and then say to the others ‘come on then, step up to the plate’.”

“While they (Ba and Cisse) are away at the African Nations, we are going to need them to do that.”