OPINION
Newcastle United attacker Dwight Gayle must not be sold in the summer even if he hasn’t delivered the goals expected of him as he offers the Magpies so much more.
The Daily Mail previously reported on Thursday that Stoke City were interested in purchasing the 27-year-old forward, with The Sun claiming earlier in the month that Fulham were keen to strike a deal for the attacker.
However while Mike Ashley is no doubt licking his lips at the prospect of selling Gayle, who hasn’t provided the goals needed this season, the forward can’t be allowed to leave St James’ Park in the summer.
The Magpies forward may have only scored five goals in 37 appearances for his side this season, a woeful return considering how often he features, but his work ethic has benefited his team.
Gayle never stops running even when the odds are against the Magpies and frankly his attitude is inspiring and has a knock-on effect on other players.
While it will be disappointing if he is leading the line by himself once again next season, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for him in the team.
Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham gushed about the Magpies ability to stay in the Premier League this season and put at lot of it down to them keeping their squad from their Championship winning campaign together.
“It’s no great surprise that Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield stayed in the Premier League at the first time of asking,” wrote the pundit in his latest column for The Sun.
“The secrets to last year’s promoted clubs survival were the same for all three: Identity and continuity.
“Just look at their most recent games, eight of Newcastle’s starting 11 played in the Championship last year.
“There is so much more to a team and its success than the 11 players on the pitch, you need to ensure a strong dressing room, that the character of incoming complement what you already have, and that there is as little unrest as possible.
“If you change too much too soon you lose that togetherness and spirit.”
It’s safe to say based on the way Gayle carries himself around the pitch, he is a key figure in maintaining a harmonious and positive dressing room.
This means that Higginbotham’s praise proves that the 28-year-old is needed at the club, as even if a lot of new faces arrive around him, his attitude is one that the club should have at its core.
Therefore while his form on the pitch hasn’t exactly been inspiring, the Magpies should still opt not to bin Gayle from their squad in the summer even though there are clubs competing for his signature.
