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Newcastle boss delighted by Gayle and Mitrovic competition

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez (REUTERS)
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The two strikers are currently battling it out for the Newcastle centre-forward spot.

Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has told the Daily Mail that he is pleased by the competition between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle up front.

The Magpies have an extremely competitive front line this season, having added Gayle to their ranks during the summer transfer window.

Former Crystal Palace player Gayle has managed 11 goals in the league so far, but Mitrovic’s four goals in his last two games mean the Serbian is pushing hard for a starting place.

Newcastle's Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring their third goalNewcastle’s Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring their third goal

Benitez, who has mostly chosen to go with one striker in his team insists: “I am really pleased to have two players scoring goals. The competition is really good for the team and us,” he told the Daily Mail.

“As a manager, you have to be really pleased. When you have one player scoring goals it is good, when you have two it is great.”

Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring the second goal for NewcastleAleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring the second goal for Newcastle

Should Gayle remain as first choice this season, it will be intriguing to see how many goals he ends up finishing with.

So far this season he has also enjoyed the best goals per game ratio of any player in the division, with a tally of 0.92.

Should he maintain that for the remaining 31 games it would see him bagging another 28 goals and finishing with a mammoth 39 in total, which would smash the previous record of 30 managed by Glenn Murray in 2012/13.

Newcastle United manager Rafa BenitezNewcastle United manager Rafa Benitez