Ex-Newcastle striker Joe Allon believes Dwight Gayle could go on to reach the magic 30 goal mark this season after some excellent performances in the black and white shirt this season.
The 25-year-old was signed from Crystal Palace for £10million in the summer, representing quite the coup for a team playing in the second tier of English football.
Allon, who started out as a youth player for the Magpies before making nine appearances for his boyhood side, wrote in his column for the Evening Chronicle that the striker is a deserving wearer of Newcastle’s famous number nine shirt:
“Dwight Gayle is the number 9 that Newcastle United fans have been craving for years – I honestly believe he could go on to get 25-35 goals this season.
”His hat-trick on Wednesday night [against Norwich] was a joy to behold. He showed in that game exactly what he’s all about – and what’s more he showed the character needed to make him a success.”
Gayle’s hat-trick against promotion rivals the Canaries means he is the club’s current top goalscorer so far this season with seven goals in 8 league appearances.
Though Aleksandar Mitrovic is a popular figure in the North East, even the Serbian has been kept at bay by the former non-league star.
It seems that, for the time being at least, manager Rafa Benitez has relaxed his rotation policy somewhat for the forward as he has only failed to start two league matches this season, one after he sustained a head injury in the EFL Cup.
