Newcastle have managed just five goals from their first nine Premier League games, and have failed to score more than one in any game, which must have Steve Bruce concerned.
He has continually put faith in Miguel Almiron to discover his scoring touch, Joelinton to start finding the net more regularly, and the impact a fully fit Andy Carroll will have.
His latest outpouring of optimism is around the fit again Dwight Gayle, with Bruce this week insisting to the Chronicle the “excellent” former Crystal Palace player will score goals when he gets his chance.
Of course, there is another way to improve the woeful record – by playing a formation conducive to creating more chances.
Bruce is like a child in a sweet shop when he is gushing about Gayle, and how “delighted” he is to have him.
He told the Chronicle: “The thing for Dwight is that whatever number he has on his back he’s got the ability to score goals.
“I am delighted that he’s around us because he is a very, very good player.”
This is the same Gayle who has managed just 21 goals and a mere four assists from his 100 Premier League appearances.
The fact he has managed 59 goals and a further 16 assists from an identical number of Championship games clearly shows where his level is.
If Gayle is the answer, maybe Bruce is asking the wrong question
The Newcastle boss added: “I have tried to sign Dwight three times but could never afford him.
“It’s vitally important that he stays fit because he reminds me of why I have tried to buy him that many times.
“In training, I get those reminders as his finishing is excellent, excellent!”
He seems to think that because he tried to sign him before he must be the answer to all our problems. But that was a younger version of the player, and even then, he has never looked like being a consistent scorer in the top flight.
Bruce sounds increasingly desperate to find the answer at the business end of the pitch, but seems unable to realise it does not matter who he plays up there, nothing will change as long as he sticks to his current tactics.
If you only have the ball around 20-25 per cent of the time, goal-scoring chances will always be at a premium.
He needs to look at himself before he pins all his misguided hopes on a striker who was clearly deemed not good enough for the Premier League by his much more knowledgeable predecessor last season.
Of course, Bruce might decide to play two genuine forwards in one of the upcoming games, and give us a chance to get on the front foot more.
If he does, and Gayle can score a goal or two, I will gladly hold my hands up and acknowledge I was wrong – I sincerely hope that will be the case, but I doubt it will be.
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