Dwight Gayle
Goals have been hard to come by for Gayle this season after scoring 23 in the Champioship last term. His return of three Premier League goals this term isn’t good enough by a long chalk but, against Manchester United, the 27-year-old delivered a performance that will surely have convinced Benitez that he can lead the line for Newcastle during the final 11 matches of the season.
Whilst he didn’t score in the game, Gayle was a constant menace to the Red Devils backline as he utilised his pace to constantly nip at their heels and chase every ball that came his way, and was unlucky not to win a first-half penalty after being tripped by Chris Smalling as he turned quickly in the penalty area. He even played a prominent part in the winning goal, instinctively flicking the ball from Florian Lejeune’s knock-down into the path of Matt Ritchie. His aerial ability and hold-up play is rarely discussed, but it is a facet of his game that has considerably improved this season.
With Islam Slimani breathing down his neck, Gayle gave a reminder to Benitez that he can still make vital contributions in the battle to avoid relegation.
