OPINION
Newcastle attacker Dwight Gayle is flourishing while out on loan at West Bromwich Albion this season but that doesn’t mean his long-term future should be at St James Park.
The 27-year-old forward arrived at The Hawthorns in order to join the Baggies on a season long loan, as confirmed by the Championship outfit’s website, with Salomon Rondon going in the other direction to the Magpies.
Gayle has scored three goals in six appearances for the Baggies so far this season and has also managed to chip in three assists as well.
The forward’s form is something to behold but it’s not a shock to see him excelling in the Championship as that seems to be his level.
Gayle was a sensation in England’s second-tier with the Magpies during the 16/17 season and was one of the major reasons why Rafa Benitez’s side cruised to promotion.
Yet the 27-year-old in his following campaign for the Magpies when in the Premier League, hardly looked like a lethal attacking threat for his side as he mustered only six goals in 35 appearances.
While some Magpies fans may enviously look on at the forward’s strike rate while he is at the Baggies, thinking their club should have kept him, it’s unlikely that Gayle would have excelled in the Premier League this season like he currently is in the Championship.
Given that Benitez should be looking to establish the Magpies in England’s top division for the foreseeable future than clearly that means Gayle shouldn’t be part of his long-term plans for the club as he simply isn’t good enough at that level.
This means that even though Gayle is currently flourishing out on loan and there may be a cry for him to be handed an opportunity upon returning, his future must not be at St James Park and the club should look for a better option.
