Cisse urges Newcastle to keep 'friends' Ba and Tiotte

Mohamad Mosselhi, Thursday 19 Apr 2012

Newcastle goal machine Papiss Cisse urges club not to sell Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote during the summer transfer window

Papiss Cisse
Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse (Photo: REuters)

Newcastle's Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse said on Thursday he does not want the club to let Demba Ba and Cheick Tiotte quit St James' Park in the summer, adding that their departure could affect his performance after they helped him to adapt to the Premier League.

Ba and Tiotte have been linked with moves to Chelsea and Tottenham in the summer.

"Yes, I would be worried if they (Ba and Tiote) left, because they have helped me a lot," Cisse was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"It may affect me because of that, but at the end of the day that's football and if a big opportunity came along for them to move they can, but I would love for them to stay and play here longer, because we are doing very well together."

"It's down to Newcastle; they will do the right thing," he added.

The 26-year-old striker, who joined Newcastle in January, has produced a string of strong performances with the Magpies since his arrival from German side SC Freiburg, scoring ten goals in nine matches.

The international striker insisted that there is no rivalry between him and his compatriot Demba Ba.

Newcastle's best scorer with 16 goals, Demba Ba has been overshadowed by Cisse since his arrival.

Ba has scored just one goal since Cisse's arrival while the latter has scored ten.

"There's no rivalry between me and Demba," he said.

"He has scored more goals than me and he's opened up many doors for me. We are playing how the manager has asked us to play and sometimes that means Demba playing out wide and me playing more centrally as a striker.

"Sometimes we switch round and he goes to attack meaning I have to defend. He's really happy for me to score and I'm happy when he scores. He's gone a few games without scoring, but he will do it again very soon," Cisse concluded.

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