Papiss Demba Cisse’s Newcastle debut impresses Pardew

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes Papiss Demba Cisse’s match-winning performance against Aston Villa will have had Magpies fans purring.

The Newcastle number nine,

who signed from Freiburg last month for a reported £10m 

, fired in a spectacular goal on his debut to

give his side a 2-1 win 

.

“It was boys’ annual stuff, that goal,” Pardew said.

“Any Magpies fan would’ve been nudging their mates and saying, ‘We’ve got a good ‘un here, he looks all right’.”

The 26-year-old Senegal international was the most expensive signing of the transfer window although he, like striking partner Demba Ba, had been on Africa Cup of Nations duty during January.

“In my career, I have been lucky with strikers in debuts, and that’s struck again today,” added Pardew.

“I am really pleased because it’s a big investment for the club.

“While Mike Ashley sanctioned it and Mike is the owner and [managing director] Derek Llambias had to see the deal through, it’s fans’ money.

“I have got to spend fans’ money here – if we don’t get anyone coming into the stadium, we haven’t got any money, so I like to spend it well.

“We have worked hard on that, we have taken our time and we hope we got it right. He has had a great start today, but that’s all at the moment.”

Cisse began on the bench but was brought on to partner Ba after forward Leon Best had to be helped off the pitch with a knee injury early in the first half.

 

Newcastle an example to Aston Villa – McLeish

“People are under a misapprehension that they have this partnership that’s formed – it’s not, they have hardly played together,” continued Pardew.

“But they are going to complement each other well because Papiss wants to go in behind and Demba wants to come short, so you have got a nice balance there, as Villa’s balance was nice today too.

“If you are going to wear that jersey at Newcastle, you need a good start, and Cisse has had that.”