· 16 May 2025, 17:00
**Dwight Gayle returned to the Newcastle United headlines earlier this season when he called out former Toon boss Steve Bruce for his brazen laziness and poor attitude.**
The clip came from a podcast in which Gayle basically said that the only time he ever saw Steve Bruce on the training pitch in a tracksuit was the day after the PIF-backed takeover of Newcastle United went through.
Obviously, rather than taking the comments on the chin or taking them in the tongue-in-cheek fashion they were no doubt intended, Bruce went on a media tour talking to all of his mates in the world of journalism to besmirch Dwight Gayle like the petty little man he is.
Now it seems as though that was a case of Dwight Gayle going down swinging as the former Newcastle United No. 9 is set to retire.
Dwight Gayle - the deadliest striker in the championship
Dwight Gayle is set to call time on his football career
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This weekend will be the last time Dwight Gayle will pull on the boots as a professional footballer, having helped Hibernian secure Europa League football next season.
The 35-year-old will play for Hibs against Rangers this weekend and after that, he will hang up his boots, as he confirmed [via the Hibs Website](https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/2025/may/16/gayle-proud-to-help-hibs-to-european-football/).
> “I am still fixated on retiring and getting back to my family. The most important thing for me is my family and spending time with them, especially while they are at a young age. I am going to come to the games as a fan next season for sure, and bring my little man to the away games abroad. The boys were buzzing to get the result on Wednesday and to get the job done. Now the fans can enjoy the day, get behind us and we can finish the season with a good result for them.
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> “You can see what every game means to the boys – we are all desperate to win. Our mindset hasn’t changed in terms of how much we want to win, we know how much it would mean to beat Rangers at home so I am sure the boys will be fully focused on doing that.”
We'll always remember that season of goals in the Championship
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Dwight Gayle had a funny old time at Newcastle. Brought in by Rafa Benitez to help the Magpies return to the Premier League, Gayle took the iconic number 9 shirt and went about doing what a Newcastle United number 9 should - scoring goals.
Gayle bagged 23 goals for the Magpies in the Championship, guiding them back to the top flight, but it became clear that Gayle's level was in the second tier, returning just six goals in the Premier League the following season.
A loan to West Brom followed that tough season before he returned to the club, until he was sold to Stoke City.
He was excellent for us in the Championship, and we'll never forget that season, or the swipe at Steve Bruce. Enjoy your retirement, Dwight.