Steve Bruce Considers Recalling Dwight Gayle in Bid to End Newcastle Goal Drought

​Steve Bruce is considering playing Dwight Gayle against Crystal Palace in an attempt to cure Newcastle’s goal-shyness.

The Magpies have failed to score in their last two ​Premier League games, including a fixture against bottom place Norwich City, who have conceded on average nearly two goals per game this season. They also failed to net against League One Oxford United in their initial encounter, with the League One side forcing an FA Cup replay.

Gayle scored 24 goals on loan at ​West Brom last season, but has yet to really shine in the Premier League since returning to St James’ Park. With no starts, Gayle has spent 179 minutes on the pitch for ​the Magpies but is still waiting for his first goal this season.

The striker has been out since early January with a hamstring injury, the latest to be sidelined in a season of mishaps for Steve Bruce’s men. Homegrown talents Jonjo Shelvey and ​Andy Caroll are both ruled out for the foreseeable future, recovering from a hamstring injury and a knock respectively.

Gayle is reported to be back in training alongside Yoshinori Muto, who is returning from a hip injury and also yet to score this season. Either could feature on Saturday against Gayle’s ex-club Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, ​Fotospor have reported that Newcastle are one of the clubs intending to send scouts to Turkey to take a look at Crystal Palace player Alexander Sorloth, who is currently flourishing on loan at Trabzonspor.

The Norwegian striker has scored 17 goals in the Süper Lig, and has attracted the attention of the Magpies as well as ​Brighton & Hove Albion and Monaco.

Sorloth seems a promising prospect, but his impressive track record this season did not translate in the English game; in 16 appearances for ​the Eagles last decade, he failed to notch a single goal or assist.