DWIGHT GAYLE faces increased competition now Aleksandar Mitrovic is available after suspension, but the in-form Newcastle United striker is relishing the prospect of battling it out with the Serbian for a place in the starting line-up.

Gayle claimed his fourth Championship goal of the season as he fired home Newcastle’s first-half winner at Bristol City, and having moved to Tyneside in a £10m switch from Crystal Palace at the start of the summer, the 25-year-old has rapidly established himself as the Magpies’ new number nine.

His position in the pecking order could change now though, with Mitrovic back in the fold after completing the four-match ban that was carried over from last season.

Mitrovic’s physical strength and aerial ability make him a more natural leader of the line, but Rafael Benitez will be sorely tempted to stick with Gayle, such has been his form in the last two matches, and could even be tempted to pair the strikers together in Saturday’s home game with Brighton.

“Mitro’s coming back on Tuesday (when Newcastle host Cheltenham in the EFL Cup), so hopefully he can come in and work hard with me as well up front,” said Gayle.

“We’ve got great depth in the squad at the moment. We’ve got Ayoze (Perez), (Mo) Diame, Mitro and (Adam) Armstrong.

“We’ve got five strikers, and we’re all going to be working hard. If we’re not playing well, we’re going to swap it around, but it’s great to have that for the team.”

Having beaten Reading on Wednesday, Newcastle made it two wins in a row as they displayed commendable resolve to see off a dogged Bristol City team.

The two victories could hardly have been more contrasting, and Gayle, who started his career in the non-league game before moving to Peterborough, was delighted to see the Magpies displaying the kind of attitude that will be required in the Championship.

“It was good to back up the (Reading) performance with another win,” he said. “It was a different game and I think the defence was fantastic.

“It was more of a Championship game.  We had a lot to do defensively and there were a lot of long balls, but we coped with it well.

“We all have great belief in the way we're set up. The gaffer sets us up to defend well, and we've got great defenders.”

Had things turned out differently last summer, Gayle could have been lining up for Bristol City at the weekend, but the striker has no regrets about turning down a move to Ashton Gate.

“At the time, I was still involved at Palace,” he said. “I felt I needed to push myself for one more year there. I think I made the right decision, and I'm happy where I am now.”