Miles Starforth with the Shields Gazette has published some comments by Steve Bruce about striker Dwight Gayle future with the club.
It seems that Bruce will give Gayle a chance this season when he gets over his current calf injury. This is what the head coach has said about Dwight Gayle and his striker options for this season.
“I see a role for him. The disappointing thing is the injury – he hasn’t kicked a ball yet. There’ll always be interest from the Championship.
“I think I’ve tried to sign him three times. But, since I came in, I’ve told him ‘Dwight, get yourself fit, and you can be part of this going forward’.
“You’re only as good as up top, and we’ve got some serious options up there now. Dwight could be a big part of that. I just hope he gets fit and proves that.”
It’s going to be hard for Gayle to get many opportunities this season so when he gets one he must make the most of it. If Bruce continues to use the 3-5-2 formation with the two strikers up front, it means players who can normally play out wide like Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin will be left fighting for one of those two positions.
You throw a fit Andy Carroll into the mix along with Yoshinori Muto who looked much improved in pre-season, and we just don’t see any room for Dwight unless there are some injuries.
We would consider Joelinton to be the first choice striker right now with most likely Almiron in that second striker role. Saint-Maximin and Muto will be pushing for one of those two spots.
Right now with Carroll and Gayle still not fit to play a part, these four players could make it very hard for either Carroll or Gayle to get a look in. If they can produce, then it will make it very hard for Gayle to find a place in the matchday squad let alone the first eleven.
Dwight had opportunities to go out on loan on deadline day but seems to want to try and push for a place at Newcastle. He could have gone to West Brom or Stoke City as deals had been lined up but he opted out of both of them.
This is what West Brom manager Slaven Bilic had to say about almost getting Dwight Gayle back to the Hawthorns.
“We tried, I’m not going to lie. Of course he made such a big impact. We needed a few strikers – that has nothing to do with Charlie Austin.
“We tried with Dwight, but it just didn’t happen. It was really difficult and that’s it basically.
“He was interested, of course. He enjoyed it here, but it was very difficult and just didn’t happen.”
Mark Douglas reported that both West Brom and Stoke City had deals set up for Gayle which broke down due to his wage demands.
Exclusive: Dwight Gayle signals desire to fight for #nufc after TWO Championship moves break down.#wba had agreed season-long loan with £15m permanent deal – but Gayle turned it down. Stoke also made bid. Details: https://t.co/SHXNlW9D0d
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 8, 2019
Gayle will have to get fit first and then hope he gets a chance on the pitch. If he gets that chance, he will have to make the most of it because he may not get many more.
16 comments so far
jane
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #1Spurs usually find a way.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:06 PM
Comment #2If you scroll through recent blog weeks (My sympathies if you do) it a really makes you laugh seeing the proliferation of regime huggers. They all have a signature style.
Most of them appear to be new.
They make up names, for groups they have invented of posters, and call them Les miserables, blog miseries, confederacy etc. They are the only ones that accuse anyone of being a group – why do you think that is? It’s to make posters whose message they don’t like less credible.
They pick on random posters they see as threats and insult them relentlessly. A lot of these posters have been on this blog a long time.
They dismantle anything or anyone they perceive as being contrary to the stability of Ashley’s version of nufc. Previous manager is a favourite, along with his excellent managerial record. They use selective irrelevant stats to “prove” how bad he really was.
While anti Ashley posters complain about Ashley, the Ashley promoters complain only about those complaining about Ashley. Funny isn’t it?
They call anyone who wants to do anything about Ashley fools, idiots, morons, less than fans, mackems even.
While those who want to boycott hope it will force change for good, the Ashley lovers simply shoot down anything to do with that. Also very odd, but if course they want Ashley out as much as anyone….
There are apparently lots of them, and they all deny the existence of multiples. Yet many sound and come across as very similar in style and content.
Then of course there’s their preferred audience. The limp jawed slackwits who’ve always loved a bit of controversy and who are perennially away with the show folk.
Sliema
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:07 PM
Comment #3We are definitely comfortably 14th for me too.
After all the money spent by the other clubs I was surprised that there weren’t many lineups outside the top 6 today that looked very daunting at all. We have a few really quality players like Schar, Dubs, Lejeune, Miggy, Longstaff for me, hopefully Joelinton too who is looking good. Maybe I’m nuts but I think we have some pace and some quality in defence, midfield and attack and that the starting 11 is one of the better ones in the league.
Depth is poor though, and we need better fullbacks. £5million isnt getting you enough for a modern day fullback in a wingback system.
Mid table for me unless bruce really gets scared and reverts to hoofball.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:20 PM
Comment #4Prediction.
By November our front 2 will be Joelinton and Gayle. Hope Almiron gets amongst the goals soon and makes that unnecessary, but I could see Gayle doing very well alongside Joelinton.
Even our first season back he was alright. 6 league goals in 22 matches worth of minutes playing as a lone ST, which doesn’t suit him.
Very capable of matching Rondon’s strike rate in this formation.
Good that we now have options when players are out of form.
peterk3
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:21 PM
Comment #5I’m looking forward to this season more than I thought I would, we’ve made some good signings and kept most of our squad from last season. We’re stronger in most positions and although most supporters don’t want Bruce he’s here so we need to trust and support him. Raffa is past tense now so stop winging. There are worse squads in the prem league so be optimistic. Support the toon.
peterk3
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:23 PM
Comment #6Gayle is a natural goalscorer, given a chance with a big man in support he will score his fair share of goals.
Toonboy_84
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #7I’m convinced the boycott will be a very small minority tomorrow.
Look on the face of it. Loads of new signings, first game of the season, opposition is a big London club, debatable where they’re at but they’re still Arsenal. Very hard to resist.
I know the reasons why people are boycotting but that’s their choice and I respect that 100%.
Me? I see it as a good opportunity to travel up from down south to let my kids have their first trip to SJP.
2-2 tomorrow but obviously hoping for a win!
HWTL
Pain in the Blog
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #8Bleatin’ n Bruced #2,
I agree with most of what you’ve said. You’re a good poster but, let’s be honest, you’re no Tsunki.
Toonboy_84
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Comment #9Peterk
Completely agree. Don’t believe this Gayle is a championship player etc
In the right system with the right service, he’ll score goals
Tony Baloney
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:41 PM
Comment #10Tsunki: since you have had your say, I will point out who I think are the bullies, bores and boors. You, Lesh, Hibbit and Old Arse. Shout down anybody that disagrees with them, often ending up swearing, and think of themselves as blog alpha dogs. The Confederacy of Dunces.
I know this adds nothing but your diatribe didn’t either and this is a lot shorter.
Others have their moments but you 4 are consistently aggressive to other posters.
Let’s not get into a big fight though. There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow.
Big day, for all of us, whatever our opinions on a boycott etc.
Tony Baloney
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Comment #11Luke Edwards’ piece on the opener again:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/10/newcastle-united-fighting-amongst-relegation-may-not-bad-seems/
wynsleap
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Comment #12“Miggy and Sait Maximine will be left fighting it out for one of those two positions”?
Sorry but we have to play both. Pace and trickery. Can’t afford to leave that kind of impact sitting on the bench in any kind of format.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 10, 2019 at 7:54 PM
Comment #13What a daft suggestion. Need to play Almiron in the playmaker role and Allan Saint Maximin and Ritchie/Atsu on the wings.
Bruce
Aug 10, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #14We will do well this season because we have big forwards like Carroll and Joelinton playing alongside miggy, max, Gayle and Muto.
For us to do well, we can’t play just one upfront.
Bruce
Aug 10, 2019 at 9:41 PM
Comment #15Kets
Max will be more dangerous upfront or behind Joelinton or Carroll.
Bruce
Aug 10, 2019 at 9:43 PM
Comment #16I would love to see Almiron, Joelinton and max on the pitch, but I dont thinks it’s going to happen.