Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed his concern over losing both Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba to the African Cup of Nations in January and admits he may have to buy a forward in the next transfer window.

Pardew also claimed that both of the Senegalese strikers have not been on top of their form so far this season and that they shouldn’t just assume their starting role is safe.

“I think both Cisse and Ba have been under par,’ Pardew told The Guardian. ‘Senegal v Ivory Coast is a massive game for this football club.”

“If Senegal win that game [and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations] we are going to lose those two strikers. Then in the next window we are going to have to do something about it.”

“But in the short term, their form has not been good.”

“I think I’ve got enough tactical options to make them worry. It is not often that Cisse and Ba score in the same game so maybe lightning will strike twice.”

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