Former Newcastle United ace Steve Howey is surprised that Dwight Gayle remains at the club, having signed a new contract earlier this year.

The Magpies striker committed his future to the club by penning a three-year contract that ties him to the Magpies until 2024.

Gayle has struggled during his time at the club, though, particularly in the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has a poor record in the top-flight, scoring 26 goals in 137 games, meaning he has a scoring rate of a goal every 0.18 games.

In the Championship, by comparison, Gayle has scored 59 times in 100 games, a much higher strike rate.

Last season, he made just four starts in the Premier League, and only managed to score once during the entire campaign, while he was also forced to battle a medial collateral ligament injury that saw him fail to make his first appearance until December, against West Bromwich Albion. Gayle scored in that game.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Howey said: “I thought the lad would be frustrated. Yes, he’s had injuries but there’s been times that he’s been on the bench and he’s not really getting used.”