DAVID Wheater can’t wait to lock horns with Newcastle United’s terrible twosome Papiss Cisse and Djemba Ba.

Considering Wanderers had just been completely undone by Fulham, the ex-Middlesbrough centre half's words ahead of his return to the North East could be construed as bullish.

But they became more understandable when he revealed that he hadn’t seen a repeat of the Magpies’ 2-0 victory over Swansea City on Friday night, nor the two fine strikes from Cisse which extended his Premier League record to better than a goal every game.

Nevertheless, Wheater acknowledged that the Whites will need to improve vastly on their limp performance at the Reebok on Saturday if they are to upset the formbook.

“Newcastle are going great, and especially Cisse,” he said. “He’s come into the Premier League brilliantly with all the goals he’s got so it will be a tough job but one we will relish.

“It will be have to be a shock result given how well they are going in the league this season. Any result at stadiums St James' is a good point.”

Owen Coyle had to be selective with his criticism after the Fulham defeat, given the close proximity of the Newcastle game. And Wheater is content that it will remain only a blip in what he still thinks is an achievable fight for safety.

“It was a massive come down from our last three results, and we know we can’t perform like that again,” he said.

“Footballers have off days but you forget about it and go into the next game.

“I don’t think you could be over critical given how close the games are. If he has a pop at every player the confidence will be down.

“That’s not the right thing. He has done the right thing in what he has said.”

Saturday’s poor display was made all the harder to understand because Wanderers had gone into the game on the back of three consecutive defeats.

Wheater admits his side could have been over-confident.

“Maybe we thought we were going to come into the game and win it, with the run we’ve been on. But Fulham are a great team and we gave them too much time on the ball.

“If you give them too much time then that’s what they do to you.

“It was a big setback but the other teams lost around us as well. We just need to go again and get the victories.”