CISSE ENDS SHIRT ROW

NEWCASTLE UNITED striker Papiss Cisse will return to full training with the rest of Alan Pardew’s squad today after finally reaching an agreement over the club’s controversial new sponsors.

The Senegal forward had refused to wear the new training kit and matchday shirt sponsored by payday loans company Wonga because of his Muslim beliefs.

His stance meant that he missed Newcastle’s training camp in Portugal last week and prompted fears he would leave St James’ Park. Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala were among those ready to offer the £9mill i on- rated striker a f resh start.

But Newcastle, who refused to budge on the issue, and the player have reached a compromise after weeks of talks. Cisse (right) and the club’s other Muslim players are now expected to wear Wonga- endorsed kit in training and for matches. The resolution comes just days after pictures emerged of Cisse allegedly gambling in a Newcastle city centre casino. The PFA have also helped negotiate a compromise between the two parties.

News that Cisse is staying will be a relief for Pardew, who has returned from Portugal, where his team played two games, losing one and drawing the other. They are due to play at Blackpool on Sunday and Cisse, who has been training on his own for the past week, is expected to feature. If not, he will appear for his first pre-season game at St Mirren two days later. Newcastle have made signing an additional striker a priority this summer, but they have failed to land Aston Villa’s Darren Bent and talks with Lyon’s Bafetimbi Gomis have

stalled.