The Premier League has had an array of cult heroes since its inception over 30 years ago, and one former top-flight star could be set to make a return to English football - though this time in Non-League.
According to The Telegraph, former Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been training with Macclesfield - the phoenix club of Macclesfield Town, which was liquidated in 2020 - and is reportedly on the verge of signing for the Northern Premier League side.
Cisse has been a free agent since leaving Ligue 2 side Amiens in the summer, with the 38-year-old now potentially looking to finish his career in England. He enjoyed a successful spell at Newcastle United between 2012 and 2016, earning cult status on Tyneside for his goalscoring prowess - largely due to his early to start to life at St. James' Park.
- 'Pardew showed me a video of Shearer’s goals. Control, bam! Control, turn, bam! I was stunned, then said, "Give me that shirt, I always take number nine"': Newcastle cult hero recalls making confident move upon signing for Magpies 13 years ago
- 'People around the world know me because of my goal at Chelsea. I still can’t explain it, though. Drogba even asked me, 'Who are you? What did you eat?"' Newcastle cult hero Papiss Cisse recalls iconic strike at Stamford Bridge
After arriving from Freiburg in January 2012, Cisse went onto score 13 Premier League goals in 14 games, a phenomenal return as he powered Newcastle to fifth in the table. Most notably of all, though, is when the Senegalese striker bagged a double at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in May that year.
While his first goal was impressive, his second was subsequently chosen as the BBC's Goal of the Season, after he curled the ball with the outside of his foot from 37 yards out in a ridiculous display of technique.
After leaving Newcastle in 2016, Cisse moved to China to play for Shandong Luneng before spells Turkey with Alanyaspor, Fenerbahce and Caykur Rizespor followed.
Cisse isn't the first former Premier League player to train with Macclesfield, however. Former Everton and Cardiff striker Oumar Niasse has also trained with the seventh tier side in the past, which has shown real ambition since its formation three years ago.
With Robbie Savage as director football and Steve Bruce's son Alex as the manager, assisted by Phil Bardsley, Macclesfield have earned back-to-back promotions and are currently fighting for the play-off places in the Northern Premier League.
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