On 21 January 2012, Cissé signed for Newcastle United on a five-and-a-half-year deal for an estimated fee in the region of £9.3 million, linking up with fellow Senegal striker Demba Ba in the process. He was subsequently handed the number 9 shirt, formerly worn by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer. On 5 February, Cissé made his debut for Newcastle in the 2–1 league win against Aston Villa at St James' Park. He replaced the injured Leon Best in the 14th minute before scoring the winning goal in the 71st minute with a breath-taking volley, chesting it before volleying with his left into the top left corner of the net. On 11 February, he made his first start for the club in the 5–0 away league defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. On 25 February, he scored in the sixth minute in a 2–2 home draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 25 March, he scored two first-half goals in Newcastle's 1–3 league victory against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, but he was denied a hat-trick early in the second half by a save by West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster. Cissé's brace against West Brom made him the quickest player since Les Ferdinand to hit the five-goal mark for Newcastle.