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Papiss Cisse will not kick a ball again for Newcastle United this season.

The Chronicle understands the diagnosis of the No 9’s injury picked up against Swansea City proved to be a broken kneecap which is likely to require an operation.

He will now miss games with Arsenal, Cardiff City and Liverpool and face a summer of rehab.

Cisse discovered the bad news after a scan yesterday.

The injury also means he could be struggling to be fit for pre-season when the Magpies return to their Benton base in early July.

Given Alan Pardew has considered moving on the striker this season, it means his chances of a summer move have also been decimated.

However, the injury will not affect United’s summer transfer plans with a new striker high on the priority list at St James’ Park anyway.

Cisse is understood to be devastated by the news, the striker eager to help United finish the campaign on a high.

The news will also mean Turkish sides Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe will have to rethink their early-summer plans in the transfer market with both to make a move for Cisse during the winter window.

Pardew knows his side are desperate for a striker this summer, but he is hoping Luuk de Jong will have recovered from the ankle injury sustained against Swansea to face Arsenal a week tonight.

Cisse’s absence now means Pardew has only Loic Remy, Shola Ameobi and de Jong to work with in the remaining games of the season.

He cannot recall young Geordie striker Adam Campbell from St Mirren as cover with the player contracted to the Paisley club until July 1.

St Mirren’s season finishes on May 10 and even though United have a game with Liverpool they are not permitted to bring Campbell back as cover a day later due to the nature of his long-term loan deal with the Buddies.

However, Pardew has at least been lifted by the return of Remy.

The French international striker returned to the fray on Saturday when coming on as a 40th-minute substitute for injured de Jong (pictured left).

Pardew had wanted to start with on-loan QPR man Remy but he was not 100% match fit after a calf injury.