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BBC pundit questions Newcastle star’s effort after slamming Brighton display
Former Arsenal striker and current BBC Sport pundit Ian Wright has slammed Newcastle United star Dwight Gayle for his performance against Brighton and has questioned his effort in training.
The former Crystal Palace hit man, who ended last season as the Magpies’ top scorer, was restored to the starting XI against the Seagulls after being benched in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, manager Rafael Benitez reverting to a 4-4-2 formation.
However, despite being partnered alongside Joselu up front, and with the support of first choice wingers Christian Atsu and Matt Ritchie, both rested against City, Gayle failed to create many clear cut chances against Brighton, with one flicked header from a Christian Atsu cross the only moment he truly tested goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
Speaking after the game, Wright was left questioning what the 27-year-old has been doing in training, insisting that he looks off the pace and that he needs to be working much harder to succeed.
He told BBC’s Match of the Day (30/12, 22:30): “Dwight Gayle needs to quicken up on everything.
“I don’t know what he is doing in training…he needs to do everything quicker, half a yard quicker, he just seems to be on his heels.
“He has got three goals up to now, think he is top scorer at Newcastle. Not enough.
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“A great ball from Atsu, I think he (Gayle) could do more with the header, he just lets it hit him, he’s put nothing on it. He has got to whip his head on it, he has got to get the goalkeeper to work more.
After having netted 23 times for the Magpies in the Championship during the last campaign, he has gone on to grab just three goals this season, the club’s joint top scorer alongside fellow striker Joselu.
Gayle will be hoping to improve that tally when he and his team mates travel to Stoke City on New Year’s Day, with the Potters sitting just one point and one place above the Magpies after being thrashed 5-0 away at Chelsea on Saturday.
In other Newcastle United news, the club are readying a bidding war for a £10million-rated international maestro.