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The 2024/25 season could be his last year in professional football as a player.
Former West Brom forward Dwight Gayle is considering retiring from football at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old signed a deal for the season with Scottish Premiership side Hibs in September, and they could potentially be his last club. He's been playing since 2007 and has worked his way from the non-league in English football to the top-flight of football in the country and in Scotland.
To date, Gayle has made nine appearances for the Edinburgh outfit, scoring two goals. Most recently he was an unused substitute against Aberdeen, and his club Hibs are involved in a close-fought relegation battle in which there are just four points separating them in eighth and St Johnstone who are in last place.
Gayle has already obtained a UEFA B Licence as he contemplates what will happen when he decides to call it a day on his career. He was upfront and honest in an interview, discussing the reasons behind his decision.
Dwight Gayle played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and Newcastle United. (Image: Getty Images)Dwight Gayle played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and Newcastle United. (Image: Getty Images)
Dwight Gayle played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and Newcastle United. (Image: Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dwight Gayle considers retirement
"My body's starting to break down a bit and it's likely that I might pack it in.
"It's just a whole heap of things - you're not able to generate the same speed and power as other people. From game to game it's hard to recover as quickly as before.
"I've always wanted to play, do what I can to help out the team, and when you feel like you're not really able to do that, then that's sort of a difficult time.
"I'd love to play forever, but with injuries and stuff like that, your body starts to pick up stuff that you probably need to think about.
"It's not just muscle injuries, other things as well that could prevent you in later life, maybe playing in the garden with your kids and stuff like that. These are things I need to take into consideration."
Gayle’s career including West Brom
Gayle began his career in 2007 with non-league side Ryan, before moving to Stansted. He was taken from non-league in to the Football League when Dagenham & Redbridge signed him, and there he had a loan spell at Bishop's Stortford, before being taken in to the Championship with Peterborough United.
He landed in the Premier League in July 2013 when Crystal Palace signed him for £4.5m, and he spent three seasons there before joining Newcastle United, where he scored most of his goals, netting 34 times in 122 games, though most of them came in the Championship.
In 2018/19, he joined West Brom and scored 23 goals in 39 games, helping the Baggies reach the play-offs. Gayle later turned out for Stoke City, playing for them for a season-and-a-half before joining Derby County last season, netting three goals in six games as he helped the Rams achieve promotion from League One.
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