Cisse arrival will keep the dream of Europe alive for NUFC
The challenge to Mike Ashley was simple earlier in the season.
Should Newcastle United still be the hunt for a European slot when it came to January, then invest in a player that could help achieve that in the second half of the season.
In Papiss Cisse's arrival from Freiburg, you have to say the elusive Toon tycoon has responded by delivering Newcastle's new number 9.
True, enough given past disappointments, many United followers will wait until the closure of the transfer window before making a full assessment of the situation by making a quick head count to see who, if anybody, has been sold.
But if that head count results in stars like Tim Krul, Demba Ba, Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye all still being in place, then it won't have been a bad window for Newcastle fans.
Cisse's arrival is an exciting one and the prospect of linking up with Ba will have many United fans counting down the days until the African Cup of Nations is over.
Newcastle done their business swiftly to deny a few other clubs with the striker admitting that Sunderland had been desperate for his services, only for Cisse to opt for United at the first opportunity meaning chants of "Cisse turned you down" are a certainty in the next Tyne-Wear derby if he plays.
Ashley has been battered from pillar to post as owner since taking over at Newcastle five years ago.
And while sometimes he has invited stick, the healthy financial state of the club and the idea of signing fresh young talent from Europe is one to be applauded given the amount of Big Time Charlies, such as Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Geremi to name but a few, who drained the resources out of the club and resulted in relegation.
Before anybody comes out with the urban myth that the Chronicle is in "Ashley's pocket" or "On the payroll", the thinking fan by now knows that the United owner does not talk to the Press unlike the previous owner and leads a very private lifestyle.
The urban myth I speak about is tired and misinformed, but I'm sure many fans and readers would welcome an interview with Ashley if it ever came about.
But on the basis of giving credit where it is due, Ashley it seems - has seen his interest re-ignited in the Magpies - and Cisse is a byproduct of that enthusiasm.
Of course, there is still time in typical fashion for it all to go Pete Tong in the window for the Magpies.
The sale of any of our top performing gems would not only cause unrest but also dent our hopes of qualifying for Europe.
For now though, let's celebrate the arrival of one of Europe's biggest goal machines.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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