The Senegal striker was restored to his central role – a position Pardew claims he will "retain until the end of the season".
But ... will he? How can Pardew say that when he is already in the transfer market for a top European striker?
Alan Pardew: “In the short term, he (Papiss Cisse) has to carry the flag. I’ve no doubt he will.
“He’s a poacher, a natural goal-scorer.
“He’s done particularly well in the wide area for us when we’ve been weak in midfield.
"I think we’re getting stronger in there, and with Demba going as well, he’ll go through the middle.
“His hold-up play has improved, and hopefully he’ll bring that to the No 9 role, because that’s been his weakness.
“Going in behind, sniffing a goal out – that will never change.
"We’ve got Shola and Papiss, and I include Nile Ranger in that conversation.”
“Outside of that we really need another one, for sure, to make sure we’ve got enough goal-scorers in the group.”