Dwight Gayle reveals what he still has to prove at Newcastle

The Newcastle United striker previously played in the top flight with Crystal Palace.

“I knew there were going to be a lot of doubters and people who wouldn’t perhaps think I could do it in the Premier League,” said Gayle, who went into non-league football after being released as a teenager by Arsenal.

“Ultimately, I haven’t scored as many goals as I would have liked, so I’ve still got a lot to prove.

“At Palace, I felt that I scored goals when I played.

“But, perhaps, I wasn’t giving a lot to the team, so I didn’t start as many games as I would have liked.

“This season, after the first 10 or 15 games, I’ve played a lot more and I think that was the thing I was looking to do this season.

“If I can mix that with goals, that would be perfect.”

Gayle, signed for £10million in the summer of 2016, believes he’s returned to the Premier League a better, more rounded player after a year in the Championship.

The 27-year-old scored 23 goals for Rafa Benitez’s title-winning team.

And Gayle is just enjoying every minute he gets on the pitch.

“Going into the Premier League last time was a very different experience for me,” Gayle told the club’s matchday programme. “I was very immature to the game, and I think the last four years have given me a lot more know-how and understanding.

“I think I go into this season with a bit more ... thankfulness, more easy going – just happy to be there.

“Last time I was just the young kid. It’s just a bit different – I don’t know how to describe it.

“I just want to enjoy it and get the most I can out of it. It’s not going to be here forever, so I just enjoy the time.

“I feel like it was a bit of a rush when I was there last time, it all happened so quickly and I didn’t really get time to take an outside look on it and just enjoy it.”