A LOT can happen in five years – just ask Newcastle United’s new £10m man Dwight Gayle.

Five years ago, the 25-year-old was playing for Stansted FC in the Essex Senior League and losing to Dunston UTS in the fifth round of the FA Vase.

Fast forward half a decade, and he is preparing to lead the line for Newcastle against Fulham on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

He has represented Crystal Palace in the top-flight in the intervening period, but has also had spells at Bishop’s Stortford, Dagenham & Redbridge and Peterborough.

At a time when English players are being pilloried for their molly-coddled lifestyles in Premier League academies, little wonder Gayle takes considerable pride from having battled so hard to make it to the top.

“If you'd have told me that (he'd be signing for Newcastle) then, I'd probably have laughed and told you were a liar, but to finally be here, on the route I've come, is a great achievement," said Gayle. "I just want to crack on now, perform, and get the goals to push us back up.

"I'm ecstatic really. It's amazing to be at a big club like this and to come from where I've come, is just a dream come true. There's a massive fanbase and a great history here, so it's amazing to be here.

"From Stansted I signed for Dagenham and went on loan to Bishop's Stortford. I had a great season there and I loved it, thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

“The next season I joined Dagenham and started well there again. I pushed on to Peterborough and had a great time in the Championship, and then went on to Palace, where I've been for the last three years.

"Coming the route I did makes it that bit more special. I appreciate it that bit more. When I go back to see some mates and go back to watch my old teams, you just notice how far you've come, and that's when you really cherish it that bit more.”

Gayle was alongside his new team-mates this morning as Newcastle’s players took part in their opening pre-season training session.

With Aleksandar Mitrovic suspended for the first four games of next season, he should get an early chance to establish himself as the Magpies’ number one striker.

He scored 13 goals in 29 appearances for Peterborough, and claimed 15 goals in 63 games with Palace, and is hoping to follow in the long line of popular strikers to have won the hearts of the Newcastle support.

“Looking back, there's been some extremely good forwards here, and the fans do love a good striker," said Gayle, in an interview with Newcastle’s official website. “If I can follow them and be half as good as some of them, then I'll be okay.

"I'm quite good at finishing, I suppose. I'm quite quick, and I'm going to give my all and work hard for the team, and try my best every game.

"You want to get to the 20 mark, and that's the first stage you want to get to. You go into each game trying to score, but the main aim for us is just to get promoted - that's going to be the main idea.

"It's a massive club, and I don't see us not being at the top of the table of there or thereabouts. I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can help push the team that way with my goals and my performances."