Dwight Gayle could be set to return to the starting lineup tonight against Chelsea, according to The Chronicle.
The forward has not started a game for us all season after a knee surgery ruled him out for the first few months of the season, with Callum Wilson’s form also seeing his playing time restricted despite impressing at the back end of last term.
However, with Wilson now sidelined for the next two months, the roles have reversed and Gayle has been presented with a glorious opportunity to regain his place up front.
The Chronicle claim he is “in contention” to start the game, with Bruce having Gayle, Joelinton and Carroll to chose from in Wilson’s absence.
He is probably the most like-for-like replacement for our current top scorer, with Andy Carroll and Joelinton lacking the goal-poacher instincts that Gayle possesses, so it makes sense that he would be asked to fill the void.
It doesn’t get much trickier than Chelsea away to make your first start of the campaign, and with his contract also set to expire this summer, Gayle may have to swim in the deep end if he wants to extend his stay on Tyneside.
Who would you like to see start in Wilson’s absence tonight?
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Ah, not the old “forgotten man” tactic!
Of course, some might argue that he’s not so much “forgotten” as “5h!te”, but I suppose there’s not much call for the headline recalling the “5h!te” man.
BykerBill(Quote)