8 Areas Newcastle United Must Improve Upon To Cope With Papiss Cisse's Suspension

"Papiss Cisse faces a seven-match suspension after accepting his FA charge for spitting" - that is the sentence no Newcastle United supporter wanted to see in the headlines this week, but the nightmare scenario has in fact become the reality. The Senegalese striker's actions were deplorable and inexcusable - although to be fair on Cisse at least he has admitted his misdemeanour and apologised for it, unlike Manchester United's Jonny Evans - and John Carver will now likely be without his top scorer until the Magpies host West Bromwich Albion on May 9. In the likely event Cisse is given a seven-game ban - six for spitting, plus an automatic extra match having already been guilty of violent conduct earlier in the campaign - Newcastle must find a way to win Premier League matches in his absence. With fixtures against Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea City, Leicester City - and of course the derby with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 5 - coming up, the Magpies have an extremely tough run and must delve deep into their defensive and offensive resources to cope with the next two months. Obviously finding a way to replace a striker who has scored 11 goals in just 10 starts is not going to be easy - but Newcastle can improve both in their defence and attack, and they must if they are serious about challenging for a top-10 finish this season. Here are eight areas in which the Magpies must improve if they are to cope with the loss of their top scorer for the next seven matches.