NUFC Have Won Just Nine Points All Season Without Papiss Cisse

Papiss Cisse's seven-match suspension is finally over yet injury could delay his return to the Newcastle United fold - and that could well relegate the Magpies, because the Senegalese striker has helped his side claim 26 of their 35 points this campaign. In fact, so crucial has Cisse been to Newcastle's Premier League campaign that, in the 16 games he has not featured, the Magpies have accumulated just nine points. During his seven-game ban, they have failed to accrue even a solitary point - and now Cisse is struggling to regain fitness following treatment to his knee. In the 19 Premier League matches that Cisse has been present - scoring 11 goals in the process - John Carver's side have collected 26 points. That means that with Cisse in the side the Magpies average 0.56 points per match - a little more than one every other game - while with the 29-year-old the number they collect more than doubles to 1.37 points per match.

Seeing as Cisse has contributed almost a third of Newcastle's entire Premier League goal tally for the season (36), it is easy to see why he is so vital for the Magpies. It was obvious to everyone that Newcastle would greatly feel Cisse's absence throughout his seven-match ban for spitting at Manchester United's Jonny Evans - seeing as they sorely missed him during his previous three-game suspension for elbowing Everton's Seamus Coleman earlier in the season - but nobody could have anticipated the Magpies losing all of those fixtures. However, the true extent of Cisse's importance to the Magpies has now been highlighted to a greater extent than ever. As well as averaging a goal every 92.5 minutes - he has scored 11 in 1,018 Premier League minutes this season, the highest strike rate for any player who has netted five times or more - his strikes alone have been worth 13 points to the Magpies.

Cisse netted both goals in 2-2 draws against Hull City and Swansea City towards the beginning of the campaign, as well as scoring in the 1-1 draw at Burnley in December. His two strikes against Chelsea at St James' Park also gave Newcastle victory over Jose Mourinho's men, before Cisse grabbed a goal in the 3-2 home win over Everton. The 32-cap Senegal striker then opened the scoring during the 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, before bagging the only goal in Newcastle's most-recent victory - all the way back at the end of February, when the Magpies beat Aston Villa 1-0.

If Newcastle are to survive, they will almost certainly need Cisse on the pitch to pop up with some crucial goals. However, if the Senegalese striker cannot regain fitness, then the Magpies look like they are heading for the Championship. Magpies fans are praying he at least makes it on to the bench for the West Bromwich Albion match this weekend. If not, then relegation beckons... For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.