The Athletic’s Newcastle United correspondent Chris Waugh does not believe that the club will extend Dwight Gayle’s contract, which expires in 2021, per The Pod on the Tyne podcast (March 11^th, 11:03).

What’s he said?

Gayle has struggled for minutes thus far this season, playing the full 90 minutes in the Premier League just twice, against Burnley and Southampton in the last two weeks.

In total, he has made 13 appearances in all competitions but has yet to score; he last found the net in a league game in April of 2019, hitting a brace for West Bromwich Albion against Hull City while on loan at the Hawthorns.

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And Waugh does not think he will be staying at St James’ Park for any length of time, claiming that the club will likely attempt to move him on once the transfer window reopens.

He said: “I can't see Newcastle renewing Gayle's contract, because he's 30 I think in October.

“He's on quite high wages as it is which has been part of the issue trying to get rid of him.

“He's had a few injuries and I don't think long-term they'll see him as the answer and maybe in the summer they'll sell him.”

Not good enough

Gayle is caught between a rock and a hard place, really.

This is a player who isn’t quite good enough for the Premier League and yet has repeatedly shown that he might be too good for the Championship.

Indeed, he has made 111 appearances in the top-flight, scoring 21 goals. In the Championship, he has played exactly 100 games, with 59 goals to his name.

Moving him on may well depend on how Newcastle finish the season – if they are relegated, it would likely pay to keep him around.

But Waugh is right that he isn’t the answer for the Magpies; he simply hasn’t been doing enough for Steve Bruce’s side.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been told to start playing this man!