• Premier League

Cisse plans long Newcastle stay

Papiss Cisse has netted seven Premier League goals this season © Getty Images

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Papiss Cisse has admitted his second season in the Premier League has not gone as planned, but he has no intention of jumping ship from Newcastle.

The forward arrived at Newcastle in January 2012 and lit up the Premier League with some stunning strikes, notably the amazing effort against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that swerved up and over keeper Petr Cech.

Cisse was tipped to carry on the form in the current campaign but, in mirroring the side's struggles in the bottom half of the table, he has not hit the same heights.

The Magpies remain in a relegation fight, but Cisse is confident Newcastle will pull away from danger and he is looking forward to a productive spell at the club.

"I've signed a contract for four-and-a-half years and I am going to be playing out my contract," Cisse said. "I feel at home in Newcastle. I've been welcomed ever since I came here.

"My first six months here were extraordinary. Everything I touched turned to gold. Obviously I was hoping it was going to be the same as the first six months this season. But when I first arrived defences didn't know what to expect - I was something a little bit new.

"Now defences have worked me out a bit and they've kept me quieter but I've been working hard to get back to my form of last season."

While the focus is on avoiding relegation, Newcastle remain in the hunt for Europa League glory and Cisse feels silverware is achievable.

He said: "In terms of winning trophies, we are in the Europa League and we have every chance of winning that.

"We are not saying we are going to but we are going to go out there and go as far as we possibly can in it.

"It's not going to be easy. We are expecting a tough match against Benfica who are a very good team. But we are not going to go there and make it easy for them.

"We are going cause them as many problems as we can and try and get the win."

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