Now is not the time to worry about Papiss Cisse
Papiss Cisse may well have cut a frustrated figure as he left St James' Park after the 0-0 stalemate with Metalist Kharkiv.
But now is not the time to worry for the Newcastle United number 9.
Twice denied by the linesman's flag in the first leg of the Europa League tie with the Ukraine side , Cisse could also only watch on in agony as Metalist keeper Oleksandr Goryainov produced three top saves to keep this tie all square going into next week's second leg.
Strikers are generally judged on goals but the time to start worrying about a striker is when they stop getting into goalscoring positions.
Cisse probably didn't sleep much after the first leg.
But it could be worse, because once a striker stops getting positions and no longer has the confidence to get into them then they are in deep trouble.
Cisse is nowhere near the stage of looking like he's afraid to fluff a chance and is working hard to get back on the scoresheet.
That was exactly the case for Fernando Torres not so long ago when he looked frightened to even have a shot.
All strikers go through barren spells - even Alan Shearer did for club and country.
And all great strikers will tell you that as long as you are creating chances then it only takes one chance, one moment and one goal to get back on track.
Cisse has spent long enough this season being played out of position and being deemed second best to Demba Ba.
But providing he keeps working hard, he will get back on track.
His record of 20 goals for the black and whites in 45 appearances should tell you that if you remain in doubt.
And there's always the second leg in the Ukraine.
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« Can the Europa League be Newcastle United's tunnel of love? | Newcastle United can't afford to freeze in ice cold Kharkiv »
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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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It's always sad when a game is decided by the decisions of the sideline and not the players on the pitch.
It appears u actually fully understand a good deal about this topic and it demonstrates throughout
this post, termed “Now is not the time to worry about Papiss Cisse - Blog
On the Tyne - Newcastle United Blog”. Thanks a lot ,Dominic