Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez says he has yet to decide who will replace Dwight Gayle in the side for tonight’s match against Leeds United.
The Spaniard will be without the Magpies top goalscorer after the 27 year old pulled up early in the match against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday. Daryl Murphy replaced Gayle as a substitute in the match but talking to the Shields Gazette, Benitez says he has a number of options to pick from ahead of tonight’s encounter at St James’ Park:
“Murphy has been doing really well and Mitrovic has been doing well. I am happy with my options. I have Gouffran and Ayoze too.”
Murphy is the likeliest of the four to start after being favoured ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic in recent weeks. The 34 year old has scored five goals in all competitions since January after being used sparingly in the first half of the season.
Mitrovic meanwhile looks like the main alternative. The 22 year old is however short of confidence, and despite scoring the same amount of goals (4) as Murphy in the Championship this season, he has only hit the back of the net once since the New Year.
