Dwight Gayle came off the bench in injury time of Newcastle United’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, amassing mere minutes of playing time before the game ended. It was the 32-year-old’s first Premier League appearance of 2022 and only his fifth of the entire campaign, so Gayle isn’t having the season he hoped for last summer.
The uncapped Englishman looked on his way out of Newcastle after amassing only 503 minutes of Premier League football last season and scoring one goal. Gayle spent most of the campaign as an unused substitute and found himself behind Callum Wilson in the pecking order, but he stayed at St James’ Park.
Gayle had offers from Championship clubs over the summer but instead had his contract extended until 2024 – a decision Newcastle must be regretting now. The Magpies signed Chris Wood from Burnley in January and are expected to use their lucrative resources to further strengthen up front, so Gayle doesn’t stand a chance of playing next season.
With only one Premier League start since July 2021 and zero Newcastle goals scored since May 2020, the 32-year-old might have to drop down a division to get himself a move – West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest are among the clubs interested in his signature.
Regardless, Gayle is finished in the North-East.
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