Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren has stressed that he has no plans of selling striker Papiss Cisse.
The 30-year-old was benched by McClaren for the Magpies' last two games, before the Senegal international hinted that he could be leaving the St James's Park club.
Cisse has been linked with a switch to Qatar, whose transfer window has not yet closed, but the United manager is adamant that he is going nowhere.
"He's not going anywhere. I came here and there was a lot of debate and talk about Papiss coming or going and whether he would be staying," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"He's a threat. He's a goalscorer. When you've got Papiss in the team you always have a chance of winning games, and I think that's what he did last season.
"I think Newcastle have a better chance of winning with Papiss in the team. He played the first two games and not the last two, but we hope he comes back ready to prove a point."
Newcastle, who sit 18th after failing to pick up a win from four games, face West Ham United away on Monday night. Cisse has netted once in four appearances this season.
Shane Callaghan
