Newcastle United are going through a tough patch at the moment, but luckily they have two men who are more than capable of saving them.
Demba Ba became a hero on Tyneside towards the beginning of last season with his incredible goal-scoring form, which included two hat-tricks and saw him on eight league goals by the end of October. He helped the club to an 11-match unbeaten start which took them to the lofty heights of third place in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Newcastle fans, the side’s results have not been so impressive this time around, having lost five of their last six league games. This run was started with consecutive home defeats against West Ham and Swansea, before two away trips saw them fall to both Southampton and Stoke. Despite managing to stop the rot temporarily with a 3-0 home victory over Wigan, Fulham ensured they were again on the receiving end of a defeat during Monday’s visit to Craven Cottage.
After Newcastle signed his international team-mate Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba appeared to lose the scoring form of his early Toon career. When both players returned from the 2012 African Cup of Nations, the former West Ham forward was often deployed further left, whilst his Senegalese strike partner would take centre stage. Cisse racked up 13 goals during his time leading the line in the second half of the season, but Ba ultimately ended the campaign as the side’s top scorer with 16.
With Senegal failing to qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations, Newcastle will be hoping their two prolific goal-scorers can get them back on track.