Hibernian’s Dwight Gayle to Retire, Citing Physical Decline

Newcastle United acquired Dwight Gayle for £10m in 2016. Hibernian forward Dwight Gayle has announced his intention to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the current season, stating that his “body is breaking down.” The striker, who previously played for Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, joined Easter Road on a season-long contract during the summer and has since recorded two goals in nine appearances. Gayle recently scored in the 3-1 victory against Ross County last weekend, but he expresses frustration over his perceived inability to contribute to the team at his desired level. The 35-year-old, who already holds a Uefa B coaching licence, elaborated on his decision, stating: “Yes, I’ve started to express my feelings. 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 is notably remembered for scoring two goals as a substitute for Crystal Palace, orchestrating a significant comeback against Liverpool that ultimately contributed to Brendan Rodgers’ team losing the Premier League title during the 2013-14 season. He transferred to Newcastle in the summer of 2016 in a deal reportedly valued at £10m, and his career also includes stints with Peterborough United, Stoke City, and West Bromwich Albion.