We all have to get behind the next Newcastle United striker, whoever he may be | OneFootball

At the beginning of February 2012, Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse marked his debut for NUFC with the winning goal against Aston Villa at St James Park.

Coming off the subs bench, Papiss chested the ball down from a Jonas Gutierrez cross, then swivelled and hammered the ball into the top corner of the net.

It was so instinctive and sublime, then as he wheeled away with a smile as wide as the Tyne Bridge, everyone that witnessed this goal realised Newcastle had captured someone special.

He had arrived from Freiburg in the January window for a fee of over £9Million and was given the coveted number 9 shirt.

My brother had actually been tipped off about him well beforehand, by his mate who was working over there.

Cisse had banged in 22 Bundesliga goals in the 2010/11 season, making him the highest African goalscorer ever in the competition, taking on the mantle previously held by Tony Yeboah.

His next Newcastle goal came against Wolverhampton Wanderers, then went on to score braces against West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool and Swansea City, as Newcastle put all three to the sword.

At the time, this made Papiss Cisse Newcastle United’s most prolific ever goals per game goalscorer, ahead of Hughie Gallacher.

Issue 269 – 2 June 2012

He eventually ended his gluttonous four month goal rout with another fantastic double in a 2-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

His second goal in injury time is the greatest Newcastle goal I have ever seen, quite rightfully awarded the BBC’s goal of the season.

If Eddie Howe and our new owners can bring in a striker this month who could go on to make even half of the impact that Papiss Cisse did, every Geordie would certainly have hope that we can salvage this season.

I personally don’t think we will see an introduction like Cisse’s in a Toon shirt ever again.

However, whoever comes in as a new Newcastle United striker should surely still receive the same warm reception and helping hand, from a rejuvenated and united fanbase, that our Senagalese Superman did a decade ago.