"I do expect..": Keith Downie delivers NUFC tease that'll leave supporters delighted - opinion

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans for their fringe players in the summer transfer window… 

When asked about the futures of Dwight Gayle, Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark and Matt Ritchie, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed that the Magpies are expected to ship off some of their squad players ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The journalist has also teased that they may not be the only ones who depart St. James’ Park in the coming months as Eddie Howe wields his axe.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “There might be a surprise among that list, but I do expect there to be a bit of a clear out and then they’ll need to bring in some fresher players, because a lot of those guys have been there a long time.”

The Toon supporters will be delighted by this news as it suggests that the club will finally be axing a number of players who are not making positive contributions on the pitch at Premier League level.

Darlow, for example, endured a shocking start to the 2021/22 campaign as he covered for Martin Dubravka. He averaged a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.47 as he let in 1.9 goals per game across eight appearances, making one error directly leading to a goal and giving away one penalty.

This suggests that he is not good enough to be the club’s number two as he struggled badly when he was pressed into action in 2021.

Gayle, meanwhile, played eight games in the entire league season and averaged six minutes per match, failing to score or register an assist in his time on the pitch. Steve Bruce and Howe opted against handing him regular game time, which is why now could be the right time for him to move on.

Clark was left out of the squad for the second half of the campaign after a dreadful six months leading up to