Derby County star Dwight Gayle has reflected on his start to life at the club, since joining as a free agent.
Dwight Gayle has had the impact that many Derby County fans would’ve wanted from the incoming striker. Three goals in his last three games has helped the Rams secure nine more points their hunt for League One promotion.
The forward has struggled in recent years, with his most recent stay at Stoke City going far from how he would’ve envisaged. However, the move to Pride Park may have come at the perfect time to recapture the love of the game once more.
Dwight Gayle impact
Gayle has discussed the impact of his start at Derby so far, speaking to BBC Radio Derby after the clash with Reading. “I’m over the moon to be playing in like a packed stadium and for the fans to be singing my name, just feels like a dream come true at the moment,” the striker said.
“Fantastic to be helping the boys, we got another result and hopefully we can get another one on Saturday [against Bolton].”
With Gayle hitting the ground running on the goal scoring front, it has dispelled any concerns over the impact he could have on the promotion run-in. “When you have a couple bad seasons, sort of thing, and it’s not going so well, you almost start to doubt yourself,” he continued.
“But like I say the boys [Derby squad] have been so welcoming to me, it’s made me feel like I fit in so quickly. Thoroughly enjoying my football, so long may it continue.”
Derby striker options
For Derby, perhaps the biggest thing Gayle has offered is the ability to play the best players in their best positions. In his absence, it was likely that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing or Tom Barkhuizen would have to play at centre-forward, taking them away from where they would be most effective.
Instead, Gayle is able to hold down that position, allowing others to thrive while also chipping in with goals himself. In the short-term, the Rams are able to field the best possible team available without changing too much.
Martyn Waghorn is back in the squad, while James Collins and Conor Washington are nearing a return at the end of March. Paul Warne has plenty of firepower in the last stretch or even, if it can’t be avoided, the playoffs.