Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has suggested that the goals of Papiss Cisse could keep Alan Pardew's struggling side in the Premier League this season.
The Magpies are currently in the relegation zone and without a win from their opening seven games, with Pardew's future as manager coming under increasing pressure.
One silver lining has been the return to form of Cisse, who has scored four goals in three appearances this term, having only found the net twice in the top flight throughout last campaign, and Shearer has admitted the importance of the Senegalese striker to the St James' Park clubs chances of survival.
"It's good to see him back amongst the goals," Shearer, who is Newcastle's record scorer with 148 goals, told the Newcastle Chronicle
"He had a poor season last year. We know he can score them. The one thing is keeping him fit and the other is keep on giving him chances.
"They are two things we must try to do because at the minute he looks like the only one who can score us goals."
Newcastle resume their Premier League campaign by hosting Leicester City on Saturday, but could be without goalkeeper Tim Krul, who sustained ligament damage in his left elbow on international duty.