24-year-old Issac Hayden will face his former club on Monday night when Newcastle travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal, who are currently 4th in the Premier League on 60 points – 25 points and 9 places above Newcastle.
Hayden joined Newcastle from Arsenal in the summer of 2016 for a meager £2M and since December he has been playing some excellent football for Newcastle and is expected to start on Monday night.
Hayden had difficulty getting first team games at the Gunners when he decided to join Rafa’s revolution and drop down a division to play for Benitez.
Isaac Hayden – no regrets joining Newcastle
Hayden has been interviewed in the Chronicle today and he says he has no regrets joining Newcastle United:
“No, not really.”
“The way I see it in football is that when you’re a young player coming through the youth Academy system at any club, it’s all about your window of opportunity.”
“You look at Sean Longstaff here, players got injured, he came in and took his opportunity and he showed what he’s capable of doing.”
“He’s performed well on the Premier League stage consistently.”
“It was similar circumstances for me, but I was the other way round.”
“I got an opportunity and I got injured and was out for 10 months and the opportunity had gone.”
“I don’t really dwell on it or think about it – that’s football.” “It’s part of your football journey.”
“It wasn’t meant to be and I’ve come to another great football club and that’s that.”
Hayden will probably still want to leave the club this summer to be closer to his family in the south.
There’s a chance he may change his mind, but if he still wants to leave Newcastle, Rafa will not stand in his way.
It will be interesting to see how much he will cost in the transfer market.
He’s proved this season that he’s an excellent young player and so much improved from when he first joined us back in the summer of 2016.
He has also shown leadership skills this season.
Hayden played only twice for the Arsenal first team and since joining Newcastle has had made 88 appearances with 4 goals and 7 assists.
He’s been an excellent buy for the club.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
4 comments so far
carltoon
Mar 28, 2019 at 1:26 PM
Comment #1I’m almost sure had a season on loan in the the championship. With Hull.
Mag52
Mar 28, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Comment #2Makes you wonder what hidden talent lies in the other non playing squad members, Muto, Barreca, Woodman for example.
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2019 at 1:42 PM
Comment #3“I’ve come to another great football club and that’s that.” – no mention, not even a hint, that he wants to leave. I’m more and more convinced every day that he’ll stick around and, with Sean Longstaff, form the CM partnership that will drive England to WC 2022 glory.
OK, maybe getting carried away, but I do think there’s a good chance he’ll stay.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Mar 28, 2019 at 1:56 PM
Comment #4Here the thing with Hayden, if there in any doubt that he really wants to be close to his family and the old ball and chain will not move north then surely it’s in the best interest of Hayden and especially the club that we cash in and use that money for a player that is 100% committed.
Not blaming him, I like the player, he has shown he can perform and when on the pitch does, but that just doesn’t work if he has that doubt.