Senegal striker Cisse hailed after Newcastle goal heroics

Papiss Cisse won high praise from his manager Alan Pardew after the Senegalese striker's goal put Newcastle in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The 27-year-old scored in the 94th minute against Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday to give the Magpies a 1-0 win.

Pardew said: "He's a natural goalscorer but he hasn't been blessed with a lot of chances in the last two games.

"This week, he had really and truly, I would say, only two really good chances and scored them both."

Cisse's dramatic intervention, when he headed past stranded keeper Vladimir Gabulov, was the last touch of an enthralling encounter.

It was his 10-the goal of the season and came four days after he scored a 92nd-minute winner against Stoke in the English Premier League.

Pardew is delighted that the forward's killer instinct has returned after a lean spell.

"We had a run of games here where he had loads of chances and didn't score, and that's how sometimes it goes for a striker," said Pardew.

"We kept saying, 'He keeps getting into position, but not scoring'.

"Sometimes it's difficult to weigh that up with a player. I do know one thing: his mood, like all strikers, changes with goals.

"I was actually shouting my head off at him about something else before he scored.

"He does a good shift for us as well, apart from the goals."

Cisse's dramatic intervention, when he headed past stranded keeper Vladimir Gabulov, was the last touch of an enthralling encounter.

It was his 10th goal of the season and sealed his side's place in the draw for the last eight, which will take place on Friday.