12 Newcastle Successes (And 12 Failures) Scouted By Graham Carr

5. Papiss Cisse

Signed: 2012 (from SC Freiburg) Transfer Fee: £9.3 million Position: Striker Newcastle United Appearances: 109 (2012-) Newcastle United Goals: 41 Current Club: Newcastle United

Few players have ever had such an instant impact at St James' Park as Cisse - with the Senegal international netting 13 times in his first 14 Premier League matches in 2012 as the Magpies narrowly missed out on qualification for the Champions League. However, the next two seasons were not quite so fruitful for the £9.3 million signing from SC Freiburg, as Cisse managed a total of just 17 goals in 24 months. Yet Cisse's form returned in 2014-15 and his 11 Premier League goals helped keep Newcastle in the top flight. Certainly not a technically-gifted player - Cisse is an out-and-out finisher - but the Senegalese forward has more than repaid his price tag, despite an abject two years in the middle. His record of 39 goals in 67 Bundesliga games for Freiburg had proven Cisse could be a Premier League striker, but it took a strong recommendation from Carr for that to become a reality. Signing Rating: 8