Former Derby County man Dwight Gayle is now on trial with a League One club following his Pride Park exit.
Derby County earned promotion from League One last season.
Paul Warne steered the Rams to the Championship after two years away, in what was a memorable 2023/24 season for Derby County fans.
The first-team players stepped up to the plate and fended off some strong League One competition to earn a 2nd place finish in the end.
And one player who played his part, albeit a very small part compared to many others, was veteran striker Dwight Gayle.
The 34-year-old was released by Stoke City midway through the season and had plenty of suitors in the EFL, in both the Championship and in League One.
Derby County signed Gayle and the former Newcastle United man would go on to score three goals in six League One appearances, with injury hampering Gayle’s time with the club.
Now though, Gayle could soon have a new club.
Dwight Gayle now on trial with Stockport County after Derby County exit
Gayle was handed a short-term contract at Pride Park. The Rams would later release Gayle after he missed the last several weeks of the 2023/24 season through injury.
But it looks like the experienced EFL striker could soon have a new club with League One Stockport County having taken Gayle in on trial.
Gayle, along with released former Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood, both featured for the Hatters in a pre-season friendly vs Blackburn Rovers on Friday.
Stockport, who were promoted from League Two as champions last season, lost the game 1-0.
Should Derby County have kept Dwight Gayle
Gayle certainly brings experience to any side he’s at. He’s also a proven striker having been prolific at Championship level in the past.
Last season with Derby, he showed that he’s still got a scoring touch and that he can provide at League One level, but with Stoke City beforehand in the Championship, Gayle couldn’t find his footing.
So it looks like League One might be the level for Gayle right now, and a move to an exciting Stockport side could be a good move for both him and the club.
For Derby, letting Gayle go was probable the right decision, with Warne having since signed the likes of Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson who may be better suited to Championship football.