There’s some good and bad news to report on the striker front ahead of tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace.
The bad news is that Andy Carroll has been ruled out of the game with a new ‘calf injury’, meaning he won’t travel to Selhurst Park this weekend.
On the flip side, not only has Callum Wilson been passed fit, Steve Bruce has confirmed Dwight Gayle is back in training for the first time since pre-season – and it sounds like he’s looking sharp.
Here’s what Bruce told BBC Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck following his return to action after several months out with a knee injury:
“He’s done everything possible (to get fit)..
“He’s worked extremely hard.
“It was good to see him training this week, reminding us what a good player and finisher he is.
“Good to see him back.”
Based on Andy Carroll’s uninspiring cameos and alarming lack of mobility of late, I’d far rather see Dwight Gayle on the bench and coming on as an impact sub.
He is no Callum Wilson, with our new £20m man scoring more already this season than Gayle managed all of last, but he proved over Project Restart that he’s still a threat if we get good service into him.
As for Carroll, I hope he recovers quickly from yet another injury, but his hopes of another extension look slimmer and slimmer.
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I never had Dwight Gayle down as “forgotten”.
I just had him down as “*****!”
JFA127(Quote)