Rafael Benitez says that Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle could miss the rest of the season with a fresh hamstring injury.
Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring their first goal
Dwight Gayle’s season could come to a premature end after he hobbled off with a hamstring injury during Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Gayle, the top scorer for the Magpies this season with 22 goals, has sustained a fresh muscle injury during the game. He went down before the hour mark, and was replaced by Daryl Murphy.
The 26-year-old had earlier missed a stretch of games this season due to a leg injury.
Rafael Benitez, the Newcastle United boss, said after the game that Gayle suffered the injury on his other leg, and could miss the rest of the season. He added that it is just a probability and that it is too early to predict.
“It’s the other hamstring, so we think that it will be another hamstring problem, but the other one,” said Benitez, as quoted by Chronicle.co.uk.
“It’s too early (to say if he’s out for the season) – it could be, but it’s too early.”
Following Newcastle’s defeat on Saturday, the Magpies have dropped to second in the league, two points behind Brighton.
The Magpies need to pick themselves up for their next game against Leeds United, who are chasing promotion after beating Preston on Saturday.
Gayle’s absence will be a big blow for Benitez and Newcastle, but as we have seen earlier this campaign, they should still be able to cope in the closing stages of the season.
Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle scores their second goal
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