Dwight Gayle’s injury will no doubt spread fear amongst the Toon Army, with Newcastle United’s top scorer likely to miss a crucial period in the Magpies’ season as Rafa Benitez ramps up his attempts to restore the club to the Premier League.
A second hamstring ailment of the campaign means the 26-year-old will likely miss crunch fixtures, all away from home, against the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town and Reading over the course of the next month or so.
Since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer, the master marksman has been a hugely influential figure on Tyneside, scoring 20 goals and looking in no way burdened by the club’s iconic No.9 shirt. Still, it’s important to remember the Magpies are yet to lose this season when playing without him leading the line, so not all is lost.
With that in mind, here’s a look at TWO players who desperately need to step up in his absence.
