Manchester City have their millions to spend in the transfer market, but none of their players at the Etihad Stadium this evening will be able to compete with Papiss Cisse’s strikerate in the Premier League this season.

The Newcastle United striker’s opener at Crystal Palace ten days ago took his tally to ten despite missing plenty of action through injury or due to the Africa Cup of Nations.

And his predatory instincts have led to interim head coach John Carver insisting that he wanted to keep the 29-year-old on Tyneside for the remainder of the campaign.

Arabian Gulf champions Al Ahli tried to lure the African to the Middle East before the United Arab Emirates’ transfer window closed last Thursday. Despite the significant finances involved, Carver claims to have been determined to keep him at St James’ Park – backed by managing director Lee Charnley.

Carver said: “I wanted to keep hold of him and I was supported 100 per cent from Lee. It was a relief to be supported, to be honest, as it’s a good sign.”

Cisse has a better goals-per-minute ratio than any other player in the English top-flight, averaging a goal every 74 minutes when he has appeared. That is ten minutes better than Frank Lampard’s return and 14 minutes superior to Sergio Aguero’s. Chelsea’s Diego Costa has averaged a goal every 94 minutes.

Carver said: “I said before he went off to the Africa Nations that he was our top goalscorer and the only way you win matches is by scoring goals.

“I said to Papiss before the Palace game that he was back in the team, but not to feel pressure to score that night. I told him that as long as he worked hard for the team then the goals would come because he gets himself into the right areas.

“I said to him at half-time that he was having a pretty average night, which he knew, up until that one chance, and he was in the right area to score it. It’s amazing what that one goal can do. He’s been lively about the place, he’s been smiling.

“What I will say is that up until the Palace game we have been creating and missing chances. We haven’t taken those opportunities and if Papiss had been there he would have finished off one or two of them.”

Cisse’s return to side has seen Ayoze Perez play in a more withdrawn role. The Spaniard has been a key player, even though he was not expected to play such a significant part after his £1.8m arrival from Tenerife.

Perez has played 27 times already for the Magpies and has hit five goals. Carver said: “I toyed with the idea of giving him a rest. He’s been one of our mainline strikers and done incredibly well.

“The fact he’s had a few days off from training ... he came back lively on Monday and has had a good week. The last time he had a similar week his physical stats, against West Ham, were at their highest.

“So I’ve looked at it closely and think he needs to play. I also know that City think an awful lot about him so he is going to be a threat.”