Former Derby County man is now on trial

After leaving Pride Park, former Derby County player Dwight Gayle is currently on trial with a League One team.

The previous season, Derby County was promoted from League One.

After two years away, Paul Warne led the Rams to the Championship in what Derby County fans will always remember as a fantastic 2023–24 season.

The first-team players rose to the occasion and managed to hold off fierce League One opposition to ultimately secure a second-place finish.

Veteran striker Dwight Gayle was one player who contributed, but very little in comparison to many others.

After being cut loose by Stoke City in the middle of the season, the 34-year-old attracted interest from teams in the EFL, Championship, and League One.

After joining Derby County, Gayle, a former player for Newcastle United, went on to score three goals in six League One games before suffering an injury that cut short his stint there.

However, Gayle might open a new club shortly.

After leaving Derby County, Dwight Gayle is currently on trial with Stockport County.
Gayle was given a temporary employment deal at Pride Park. After Gayle’s injury kept him out of the final few weeks of the 2023–2024 season, the Rams would later dismiss him.

However, it appears that Gayle, an accomplished striker in the EFL, may soon have a new team as League One Stockport County has put him on trial.

In a preseason friendly against Blackburn Rovers on Friday, Gayle and Oliver Norwood, a freed former Sheffield United midfielder, both played for the Hatters.

The game was lost 1-0 by Stockport, who were promoted from League Two after winning the previous season.

Should Derby County have kept Dwight Gayle

Gayle undoubtedly adds expertise to whatever position he has. Additionally, he has experience as a striker and was successful in the Championship in the past.

He demonstrated last season with Derby that he still has the ability to score goals and contribute at the League One level, but Gayle struggled to establish himself against Stoke City in the Championship.

It appears like Gayle is at his best in League One at the moment, so joining a competitive Stockport team might benefit the club and him.

Derby made the right move in allowing Gayle go, since Warne has since signed players who might be more suited for Championship football, such Kayden Jackson and Jerry Yates.