He says his shattered confidence is being rebuilt at Newcastle United ... but don't expect Mike Ashley to push a new contract and a pen under his nose.
Xisco has made just 11 appearances for United since his move from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer of 2008, and hasn’t played a first-team game since August 2010!
But the former Spain Under-21 international, signed for £5.7m, is suddenly on the scene again.
Alan Pardew: "He won’t feature in tomorrow night’s group game against Club Brugge at St James’s Park.
“He won’t be involved, but I’m very pleased with him in terms of it’s the first time since I’ve been here that he’s shown signs of life.
“He came for a big fee. Unfortunately for him, it hung around him. He’s carried that a little bit.
“Because of the strikers here, the pressure isn’t on him. He’s beginning to get some confidence back.
“All players have difficult times. There have been difficult times for him. I’m pleased he got that hat-trick. Hopefully, he can build on that, but he won’t be involved.”