With a goalscoring record that boasted 37 goals in 65 games in the Bundesliga, Papiss Cisse’s arrival in Tyneside prompted mixed emotion from Fantasy managers. Demba Ba’s outstanding form this season had seen him established as the spearhead in Alan Pardew’s attack, with the former West Ham man emerging as a superb Fantasy prospect in the mid-price bracket.

There was understandable concern that, despite their relationship up front for Senegal, Cisse’s arrival would change the climate and possibly lead to a decline in Ba’s fortunes, dividing Fantasy managers between the established Premier League striker and the potentially explosive newcomer.

Using the Opta data available to members and our own ICT index, we take a step back and examine the stats and performances of the two Newcastle strikers so far – assessing the potential of the pairing, the impact on Ba and the merits of the possible switch to his cheaper strike partner.