GAYLE PREM PLEDGE
Dwight sets goal target in top flight
NEWCASTLE striker Dwight Gayle is confident the goals will flow in the Premier League next season.
The Toon hitman rounded off the best campaign of his career with the third goal in the 3-0 win over Barnsley, a victory which saw Newcastle pip Brighton to the Championship title.
The strike took his tally to 23 for the campaign. And while he scored just 15 league goals in three years at former club Crystal Palace, the 27-year-old believes he can continue finding the net on a regular basis.
“Hopefully I can push on next season,” said Gayle. “The most important thing was for us to get back up, but you have your personal target and I reached that.
“This has been my favourite season and my favourite end to a season. I was saying to a few of the boys, ‘You’re going to remember this for the rest of your lives’.
“The fact we won the Championship is a great achievement and we’re all buzzing about it.”
Toon boss Rafa Benitez, who is holding talks with owner Mike Ashley this week, will bring in at least one new forward, with Burnley’s Andre Gray at the top of his hit list.
Gayle endured an injury-plagued second half to the season, finding the net just three times since January.
But he was delighted to come off the bench on Sunday to play his part in the title clincher.
He added: “I’ve had some bad times with my hamstrings and it was probably best for me to just sit it out.
“But obviously I want to be playing and to miss the last day would have been gutting. I’m just glad I got the last 10 minutes of the game.”