“Has to get a chance” – Many Newcastle fans react as Bruce discusses £40k-p/w rarely-seen man

Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after Steve Bruce discussed what his plans are for Dwight Gayle at his pre-Manchester City press conference on Friday, via quotes by the Chronicle’s Ciaran Kelly.

Gayle has been our most rarely-seen player this season, having been awarded just 24 minutes of action in the Premier League spread across three substitute appearances.

The 29-year-old earned a majority of his game time in Monday night’s 2-0 loss at Aston Villa having come on in the 72nd-minute as Bruce benched Joelinton, after the £40million summer signing from TSG Hoffenheim failed to direct any of his three shots on target.

Before that, Gayle’s longest outing of the term came in a five-minute cameo in our 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea in October, while playing just a sole minute in the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of last month.

The £40,000-per-week striker had missed much of the start of the campaign through a calf injury sustained during the club’s pre-season tour of China in July, and returned to training at the start of October following a warm-weather camp in Portugal.

Bruce is in no rush to offer Gayle a greater role, though, and told reporters on Friday morning: “When he gets his chance, which he will do, you hope he takes it.

“I’ve been very pleased with the contribution the front three have made to [the] team.”

Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin have played a combined 2,701 minutes in the Premier League so far this season, but have registered just one goal and one assist between them – both coming through Joelinton.

Here are some of the reactions shared to Bruce discussing Gayle’s role…