FORMER Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse is set to pull on his boots again – as he approaches his 40th birthday.
Cisse set the Premier League alight when he joined the Toon and linked up with Senegalese countryman Demba Ba in 2012.
The 39-year-old left St James’ Park in the wake of the club’s relegation in 2016 – and he has since had playing spells in China, Turkey and France.
Cisse has now landed in the Middle East, where he has signed for newly-formed Dubai side Al Qabila, who play in the fourth tier of football in the United Arab Emirates.
Al Qabila, coached by Cisse’s old Toon team-mate Steven Taylor, are pushing for promotion this season.
Taylor has been coaching in Dubai for the past three years, having hung up his boots in 2021.
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Cisse was offered a deal until the end of the season after proving his fitness in training.
The Dakar-born player – who turns 40 in June – scored 37 top-flight goals from 117 appearances for Newcastle.
Cisse was without a club when he was signed up by The Player Agency, who want to recruit more high-profile players and help them look for clubs overseas after injuries or to prolong their careers.
The Toon hero said: “I’m thankful to The Player for the opportunity to enter the market in the UAE.”
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Cisse has been without a team since the summer of 2023, when he left French side Amiens.
The former Senegal international trained with Robbie Savage’s Macclesfield in late 2023 but did not join the club.
Carabao Cup final ratings
NEWCASTLE ended their 70-year trophy drought in style by beating Premier League champions-elect Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
The 2-1 scoreline flattered the Reds in truth, with Eddie Howe’s Toon having produced a sensational performance to flatten runaway league leaders.
Local lad Dan Burn, fresh off his first England call-up, rose highest to head his boyhood club into the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Alexander Isak then deservedly doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly after the break.
The Toon could have further increased their advantage, only for forgotten man Federico Chiesa to hand Liverpool a late lifeline on 94 minutes.
But that goal was unable to spur a further comeback as Newcastle saw out the remaining added time.
