Steve Howey has told Sky Sports News (17/9, 09:27) that Dwight Gayle’s lack of minutes for Newcastle United this season is a complete head-scratcher amid Callum Wilson’s absence.
The Toon host Leeds on Friday night with both still in search of their first wins of the season. Newcastle have drawn one and lost three of their opening Premier League games, while Leeds have one point from 12.
Wilson has also scored two of Newcastle’s five goals, but will not face Leeds. Steve Bruce confirmed, via Chronicle Live, he is still struggling with the thigh injury that ruled him out against Manchester United last weekend.
Bruce started Joelinton at left-midfield in Wilson’s absence, but Gayle being yet to feature at all for Newcastle this term confuses Howey.
“The kind of head-scratching one about Gayle is he signed a three-year contract, but he hasn’t featured. He hasn’t even come on as a sub,” Howey said. “Now, you’d have thought in contract negotiations, the player would have said: ‘I know I’m not first-choice, I know it’s Callum Wilson. But if anything happens to Callum, whether it’s injury – which it is now – or suspension, I should be next. Because I am the next real centre-forward at this club.
“But he hasn’t featured, so that’s a head-scratcher. A lot of fans are saying: ‘Well, he’s a Championship goalscorer’ and stuff like that. Listen, that might be the case, but he’s still a goalscorer and he’ll get in those little areas where defenders won’t like him to be. Whereas somebody like Joelinton doesn’t get in that area or doesn’t break his backside to get inside the box. It’s a big call for the goalkeepers, but the big one is does he start Gayle.”
Should Bruce start Gayle with Wilson missing for Newcastle, like Howey suggests?
Bruce said he was ‘delighted’ when Newcastle confirmed Gayle had signed a new contract this summer, but has overlooked the forward completely since despite Wilson’s injury, to leave Howey scratching his head over the Magpies team selection ahead of hosting Leeds.
Gayle has occupied a seat on the Toon bench for each of their opening four Premier League games. Yet his only minutes of the campaign to date came against Burnley in the Carabao Cup, with Wilson rested.
Joelinton, meanwhile, has featured in all four top-flight fixtures thus far, making his first start against Manchester United. The Brazilian is yet to score or provide an assist, though. To leave Howey to suggest Bruce should field Gayle in Wilson’s role for Newcastle tonight.
Gayle only scored once in 18 Premier League games last season before Newcastle handed the 31-year-old a three-year contract extension. He was set to become a free agent this summer before putting pen to paper on a new £40k-a-week deal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
