The Chronicle’s Newcastle United journalist Lee Ryder believes that Dwight Gayle needs to be starting games for the club, per Everything Is Black And White (February 22, 5:45).

What’s he said?

Gayle has made just two starts in the Premier League thus far this season, playing a maximum of 59 minutes in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester United on Boxing Day.

In his 10 games on the pitch, he has not scored a goal, though he did register an assist against Wolves.

Nevertheless, striker Joelinton, who has played in every Premier League game this season, has scored just once in his 26 starts, and Ryder believes that Gayle needs to be given a chance to hit the back of the net with regularity.

Indeed, he has scored 29 goals in 81 outings for the Magpies in total.

Ryder said: “Yeah, I think for me personally, I think the time has come to start with Dwight Gayle. I think he's the pick of the available strikers.

“Whether you take Joelinton out of the firing line altogether is down to the manager really, but whether he plays him on the left hand side and decreases some of the pressure on his shoulders, because that's what it is, and he’s melting in that pressure at the minute.”

Who the heck is that?! Can you name all 25 of these obscure Newcastle signings...

Got to be worth it

Bruce needs to change something.

Joelinton’s only goal came against Tottenham Hotspur in August, and he has had two goal involvements in the 24 games since; registering assists against West Ham United and Manchester United.

Newcastle are currently 14th, seven points clear of the relegation zone, but they have not won any of their last four games, losing to Crystal Palace and Arsenal and drawing with Norwich City and Everton.

They have scored two goals in those games, with both coming against the Toffees – defender Florian Lejeune scored a brace.

Bringing Gayle in, then, with the Magpies playing Burnley and Southampton in the league and West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup in their next three outings, makes complete and total sense.

Joelinton’s form has been so irretrievably poor that he needs pulling out of the firing line.

Ryder has nailed this.

Meanwhile, one decision by Bruce has been criticised by a Newcastle journalist!