Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew insists the club had little choice but to deny striker Papiss Cisse an Olympic adventure with Senegal. Pardew said: "It was more the owners, really, who have to pay the guy's money.
"He had a full first half in Germany, he had the African Nations Cup, he had the second half of the season in his first year in the Premier League.
"He then had qualifying games, they want him again for the African Nations and they wanted him for the Olympics, and that was stretching it a little bit.
"As much as I feel for Papiss, because I am sure he would have wanted to play - he's not back yet, he's due back later this week - we have to make a call for his own health.
"I am sure he has got pressure from within the country for him to play and we have to release that pressure for him because physically, he couldn't do that. It's impossible."
