JOHN CARVER will not allow Newcastle United’s season peter out - and Papiss Cisse could provide the head coach with a welcome boost following Senegal’s exit from the African Cup of Nations.

Carver was handed the job of leading the Magpies until the end of the season, when they are expected to announce a permanent replacement for Alan Pardew.

The Newcastle-born coach has been in charge since the turn of the year, but he is yet to guide the Magpies to victory ahead of Saturday’s trip to struggling Hull City.

The Tynesiders sat ninth after Pardew’s last game – the 3-2 win over Everton on December 28 – but a run of two defeats and one draw has seen them slip out of the top ten.

With managing director Lee Charnley willing to wait until the summer to appoint a new head coach, concerns are growing that Newcastle’s season is heading in one direction.

That doesn’t sit with Carver, though, who insists there will be no letting up from the players despite the on-going search for a new boss.

“I'm delighted to have got the job until the end of the season,” Carver told nufc.co.uk.

“Everyone knows I love this club and my goals are simple - to finish as high as we can in the Premier League and get as many points as we can.

“Everybody on the outside is talking about our season petering away but I am not going to allow that to happen.

“Those who are saying that don't know me, don't know the people around me and don't know this group of players. We're much more professional than that.

“We can't afford to let the season drift away and I won't allow it to happen. I'm too demanding and I won't allow anyone to slacken off between now and the end of May.”

Ashley’s directive at the beginning of the season was for Pardew to deliver a top ten finish. Four points separate 11th-placed Newcastle and Everton in 12th but teams above them have opened up a gap.

Cisse could return for the Magpies this weekend after Senegal failed to progress from the group stages.

The striker has scored nine goals in 13 appearances this season and Carver highlighted the 29-year-old’s importance when asked whether the team needed a new front man in the transfer window.

The Magpies have been linked with moves for Spanish duo David Concha and Jorge Mere, while MK Dons boss Karl Robinson has confirmed their interest in young midfielder Dele Alli.

Robinson insists a deal isn’t close to being complete, but revealed any move would have to include the 18-year-old being loaned back to the League One outfit for the rest of the season.

Carver has distanced himself from transfer dealings since being placed in charge, but the head coach revealed he has given Steve Stone and Dave Watson – the under-18s coach – more prominent roles in first-team affairs.

He said: “I love being on the training pitch and the role of the head coach is to be hands-on out here.

“When you are a manager you have to manage the football club, but the role has changed and it gives me maximum time on the training ground, coaching the players.

“What I have done is given Steve (Stone) and Dave (Watson) more responsibility because they are very good at what they do, and it is important that you delegate to those who are talented.

“But when it comes to the meat of the session, it is my responsibility to prepare the team for the final 16 games.

“The players have been really positive and have responded. Even though we haven't won a game yet, I think we've played some nice stuff in spells. Ultimately though, it is about scoring goals and winning games so that needs to change.

“We've done plenty of work on that on the training pitch and hopefully that little bit of luck we need will fall our way this weekend.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle have announced season ticket prices for next season. There will be a freeze on all season tickets and the club have significantly reduced the price for its younger fans in the 18-21 seating area, with tickets being cut from £300 for the current season down to £250 for 2015/16.

To ensure season ticket holders gain maximum value and to further reward their loyalty, for next season single tickets for the higher category games will be subject to a price increase and will, on occasions, be restricted to members-only sales, meaning there will be no general sale.