Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has dropped a huge hint that Dwight Gayle may not start against Norwich City.
Newcastle United claimed a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park during the weekend and it has to be said that the Magpies would have been left very disappointed at earning only one point from the encounter.
Newcastle squandered numerous chances throughout the game and striker Dwight Gayle, in particular, was guilty of missing a host of wonderful opportunities to score on the night.
Benitez was not at all pleased with the profligacy his side displayed during the encounter against Villa and the Spaniard has gone on to suggest that Gayle could now well be dropped for the blockbuster midweek encounter against Norwich City in midweek.
The Magpies’ boss has rotated his starting lineup quite a bit so far this season and has hinted that either Aleksandar Mitrovic or Daryl Murphy could start in place of Gayle in the clash with Norwich.
Benitez was quoted saying by the Chronicle, “If I decide to change players it is not because someone has made a mistake or missed a chance – especially with the strikers.
“It is because they have to do a job. This was a game for Gayle. We have seen it was a game for him because he had a lot of chances.
“Maybe the next one is for him, or maybe Mitro, or maybe Murphy. I think it is not a question of if they miss a chance then you have to change it.
“It is a question of, if they work hard for the team, then the strikers will score goals because they are good enough.”