Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admits that Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba are sorely missing the creativity of injured midfielder Yohan Cabaye.
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Cabaye underwent double surgery on a groin problem back in November and is only expected to return in February.
Coupled with the loss of Hatem Ben Arfa and a host of other injuries, the Magpies are struggling down in 15th position in the Premier League standings.
Cabaye was a highly influential figure in the Magpies' run to a fifth-placed finish last season, creating a number of goals for Senegalese front pairing Cisse and Ba in the process.
Cisse, in particular, profited from the Frenchman's service, scoring 13 goals in his first 14 games on Tyneside. However, this season he has mustered a measly 2 goals from 15 league games.
And Pardew was the first to acknowledge that Cabaye is a big loss for his side and that Cisse's form has dipped as a result.
"When you have a creative force like Yohan Cabaye missing in the midfield it causes you a problem," said the 51-year-old. "I think in this particular year they have missed the creativeness of Hatem Ben Arfa for periods and Cabaye.
"A lot of goals which Cisse scored last year were assisted by Cabaye and I think he has suffered mainly from his absence.
"Demba has too, but can they play as a pair? Of course they can. Are they playing well at the moment as a pair? No, they are probably not, but we have to keep working at it because they are two big assets for us."
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