Dwight Gayle: Derby County striker says return to scoring form a 'dream come true'
- Published
Dwight Gayle has scored 127 league goals in his 12 year career
Dwight Gayle says rediscovering his long-lost scoring form with League One promotion-chasing Derby "feels like a dream come true".
The 34-year-old ex-Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Brom striker scored his third goal in three games as the Rams beat Reading 2-1 on Tuesday.
Three goals in five games since arriving from Stoke is as many as Gayle managed in 50 matches with the Potters.
Asked if he had found his love for football again, he said: "Massively."
Talking to BBC Radio Derby, the forward continued: "I'm over the moon to be playing in a packed stadium, and for the fans to be singing my name feels like a dream come true.
"When you have a couple of bad seasons and it's not going too well, you almost start to doubt yourself.
"The other day when I scored again, I just realised how much I'm going to miss it when it goes and it's obviously going to be emotional, but I just have to enjoy it while I can."
When Gayle opened his scoring account for Derby in their 3-0 win against Port Vale, it was his first goal in 12 months and only his fourth in more than three years.
Rams boss Paul Warne, who brought the experienced striker in as cover for the injured James Collins on 19 February, said at the time that Gayle would be a valuable weapon despite being "rusty".
The striker said he has quickly got comfortable in the "homely" environment at Derby.
"The boys have been so welcoming to me, and it has made me fit in so quick," he added.
"I'm thoroughly enjoying my football and long may it continue."
Gayle's run of goals has also coincided with Derby's three-game winning run, to move them up to second in the table and in the automatic promotion spots with eight matches remaining.
They next host Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, who are one place and one point below the Rams.
"We are in a strong position but we have some big games coming up," Gayle said.
"You just have to enjoy these moments, they don't come around too often, but you also have to take the opportunity to get the result."