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 spells playing 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.
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 in 117 games 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.”
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.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Fans think the Wealdstone Raider is a time traveller after his incredible Newcastle Carabao Cup prediction goes viral ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6370144193112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”] [boxout headline=”Carabao Cup final ratings” featured-image=”33882571″ intro=”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.