Rafael Benitez admits Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle has lost his confidence

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Newcastle United forward Dwight Gayle has missed much of pre-season with injury.

Rafael Benitez has admitted to the Chronicle that Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle has lost his confidence just ahead of the new campaign.

Gayle is building up fitness again, after missing much of pre season on the sidelines with injury.

And Benitez admits that he is having to try and build Gayle’s confidence up, so he is fully sharp in time for the season to start.

“For Gayle it is more the feeling, he needs confidence to do what he can do. He is doing everything,” Benitez said after the Magpies’ latest friendly match against Hellas Verona, which they won 2-0.

“Now it is a question of confidence so we carry on pushing and training and hopefully he will get his confidence back.”

Gayle is expected to be in Newcastle’s squad for their opening match of the campaign, which comes against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Gayle was Newcastle’s leading marksman last season, and is expected to have a key role to play in the upcoming campaign.

The former Crystal Palace and Peterborough United man may have to make do with a place on the substitutes’ bench against Spurs though.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has been used regularly over pre-season, and has generally impressed, meaning he looks most likely to start for Newcastle next weekend.