Ex Crystal Palace and Newcastle United 'rusty' bagsman offered trial lifeline by League One club

Former Crystal Palace and Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle appeared as a trialist for League One outfit Stockport County over the weekend as the player looks for a new club this summer.

The 34-year-old is a free agent following his release from Derby County at the end of the 2023/34 campaign. Gayle joined the Rams on a short-term contract in February and made six third-tier appearances as the club achieved promotion to the Championship.

The ex Premier League bagsman netted three goals in back-to-back matches in March but suffered a hamstring injury later that month which saw him miss the rest of the campaign. Derby County boss Paul Warne praised Gayle for his impact on the side after his early prolific form.

Warne said: "We know he is rusty, and we also know he can definitely play at this level and he is another threat for us. Some of his touches were good again and he took a little bit more rust off."

Gayle wasn't kept on by the club as they prepare for a Championship campaign but appears to have found a potential new side in League One. The striker was spotted playing as a trialist for Stockport County as they faced Blackburn Rovers in a friendly on Friday.

Last year's League Two winners were defeated 1-0 by Rovers in that game, which also featured recently released Sheffield United man Ollie Norwood as a trialist. It remains to be seen whether Gayle is offered a contract by the club ahead of their opening League One match against Cambridge United on Saturday.

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The former Crystal Palace man is held in somewhat of a cult hero status at Selhurst Park thanks to his three-year spell at the side. Gayle scored 25 goals in 74 appearances for the Eagles, including a famous brace from the bench in a 3-3 thriller against Liverpool in South London in May 2014.

Gayle left Palace in 2016 to join Newcastle United for £10 million. The forward was prolific for the Magpies with 23 goals in his first season before managing six Premier League goals in the 2017/18 campaign and then 23 Championship goals in the 2018/19 season. Gayle left the Tyneside club to join Stoke City in 2022.