Silkmen linked with striker Cisse
Former Premier League hitman Papiss training with Alex Bruce’s squad
FORMER Newcastle United number nine Papiss Cisse is training with Macclesfield ahead of a sensational return to English football.
The 38-year-old, who spent four-and-a-half years with the Magpies, has been without a club since leaving Ligue 2 outfit Amiens.
A report in the Telegraph suggests Cisse is open to the idea of signing terms at the Leasing.com Stadium as he lives near the area.
An explosive start with Newcastle United in 2012 saw Cisse score 13 goals in 14 games to secure Europa League qualification under Alan Pardew. While form became patchy from then, the striker did the iconic jersey justice and has made no secret of his desire to return to England.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cisse, then 35, gave a bizarre interview from his garden, claiming he was still good enough to play in the Premier League.
A montage of shooting drills was not, however, enough to convince topflight suitors.
Two years on and Cisse is back training ahead of a dream return to English football in the Northern Premier League.
Should Cisse be tempted to pull on his boots for competitive football again with Macclesfield, he would be joining a club sitting one point outside the play-off positions in sixth spot, 13 points behind leaders Radcliffe but still harbouring hopes of promotion.
And having got off to a winning start on the road at Marske United in midweek, Saturday proved a warm welcome to the Leasing.com for new manager Bruce.
He saw his side edge a 2-1 victory over Whitby Town thanks to an astute finish from John Rooney and an Alex Curran penalty. Their goals cancelled out Junior Mondal’s thunderous strike before halftime, the result putting Macc within a point of a play-off spots.
Despite coming away with all three points in the end, the Seasiders didn’t make it easy for Macc.
Late drama meant that Whitby were convinced they had bundled the ball over the line through Adam Gell, yet the referee was in firm disagreement.
“I was delighted again with the effort and endeavour of the team”, praised Bruce.
“I thought the shape that they stuck to, the way they fought for each other, second balls, which was big, we touched on that before the game.
“I thought everything that they threw at us we dealt with reasonably well, obviously a lapse in concentration with the goal and I think we got away with one at the end with the ball: whether it was over the line, whether it wasn’t.
“From our point of view, I couldn’t have asked for any more, I thought the chances we created was something I was really pleased with.
“On another day I think we could have scored four or five so overall I’m delighted.”
Macc’s key to success came down the wings, with Neil Kengni most notably being instrumental down the right flank after the Macclesfield man was at the heart of the first goal and won the penalty for the second.
“They [the wingers] were excellent,” said Bruce.
“As you can see it’s a big wide-open pitch and with the pace of [Neil] Kengni and Duffs [Luke Duffy] on the left hand side, obviously Alex Curran’s got that little bit of nous where he can drop into pockets and bring people into play.
“I was delighted with the front three but, to be fair, I was delighted with all of them.
“I was really pleased with the way we defended our box and cut out silly errors which was big, especially when we’re holding on to a lead.”
As well as being offensively admirable, the Silks did just as well defensively to hold on to a lead that remained unchanged for over an hour.
The Macclesfield backline has conceded just 17 goals this season, second only to Warrington Rylands’ 13.
“I watched them [Whitby Town] play against Hyde [United] the other night and it was pretty evident that they were going to chuck it up the line and throw it in the box.
“If you’re going to do anything against them, you’re going to have to do the ugly things as well
and I thought we did that.”
“I said it last week but momentum is key in football and that’s three wins now on the bounce if you include the cup game so hopefully the lads are confident.
“They’re working really well and I couldn’t have asked for anything more so it’s just a case of more of the same.”
Macclesfield were due to take on Basford at home as the Express went to press and make the trip to Alfreton Town on Saturday in the FA Trophy Second Round.