While Newcastle United can still theoretically maintain their Premier League status before the current domestic campaign finally reaches its conclusion, the prospect of relegation looms ever closer for the beleaguered Tynesiders with just six games left to play.

Steve McClaren was, arguably, never quite worthy of taking on such a massive challenge in the first place truth be told. The task currently residing in Rafa Benitez’s hands is, as a result, verging on the edge of impossible, and the entire Newcastle playing staff simply don’t look up for the battle.

One player to receive more criticism than the vast majority of his largely condemned Magpies colleagues arrives in the form of ex-Toulouse midfielder, and France international, Moussa Sissoko. The 26-year-old has failed to live up to his so-called full potential this season frustrating many,

So then, as the player in question was surprisingly linked with a shock move to Serie A just a short matter of months ago – must Newcastle United look to part ways with Sissoko at the end of the season, regardless of how Benitez’s side eventually finish their so far turbulent 2015/16 campaign?

Well, even though the Frenchman was indeed once considered one of the standout names in Magpies contingency, the equally criticised boardroom staff behind the scenes at St. James’ Park need to wash their hands of this under-performing star as soon as physically possible…

Despite showing glimpses of his potential talent once in a blue moon for the struggling Tyneside outfit, the former Ligue 1 prospect has ultimately gone missing far too often to be taken seriously this season. If Sissoko somehow manages to maintain a spot among the French national squad for EURO 2016 this summer, Didier Deschamps’ overall knowledge of the English Premier League must seriously be called into question.

Although Sissoko has admittedly impressed on the odd occasion via his powerful nature inside the final third and distinct ability to turn out several match-winning performances when the circumstances prove favourable, this is one player who has certainly incurred the wrath of the Newcastle United faithful in recent weeks.

His physically able midfield presence has never quite stood up to be counted throughout his entire spell on Tyneside truth be told. When the going gets tough for the Magpies - as it often has done across recent history – you can bet your bottom dollar that Sissoko will drift away from the action and produce yet another ghostly performance just when the rest of his team-mates seem to require his help the most.

Yes, he isn’t the only culprit to go missing on Tyneside throughout the vast majority of the 2015/16 campaign - Georginio Wijnaldum certainly has to fall into that same aforementioned category despite beginning the current season in rather promising style – but as Sissoko has nonetheless been plying his trade long enough in the North East to know what playing for Newcastle should really be all about, he arguably represents the greatest offender.

In the end, however, it remains highly unlikely that AC Milan – or any other right-minded top-flight club for that matter – would ever see fit to land the 26-year-old Magpies midfielder on the back of such a poor domestic campaign.

Yet even if Newcastle do eventually manage to secure Premier League survival upon the culmination of the current season, it remains increasingly difficult to envisage such a stark under-performer being offered another chance to show his worth.

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