According to the Chronicle journalist Ciaran Kelly, Isaac Hayden is ready to pledge his future at Newcastle United. The midfielder was linked with a move away from Tyneside in the summer. But, he is now poised to extend his stay at St. James’ Park by signing a new contract. It is believed that Hayden has been impressed with the ambition Newcastle have shown, of late.
How has Hayden performed at Newcastle?
Hayden was, at best, a bit-part player for the most of Rafael Benitez’s stay at Newcastle. Indeed, the midfielder had notably mustered just over 1,300 minutes of league football during the 2017/18 campaign. He was often overlooked in favour of players like Mohamed Diame.
However, Hayden became a vital member of the Newcastle midfield since the turn of the year. From featuring in just over 300 minutes during the first phase of the last campaign, the midfielder ended the season, making 25 league appearances.
The 24-year-old offered stability in the middle of the park. His partnership alongside Sean Longstaff made Newcastle much more solid in both build-ups as well as defence. After all, it was their second line of the press that prevented their opponents from dominating the midfield.
As a result, the Magpies manages to escape from the relegation scrap, though Benitez left the helm at the end of the campaign. But, despite the change of managers, Hayden has continued to play an essential role at Newcastle under Steve Bruce.
Could Hayden’s potential extension serve as a boost for Newcastle?
The lack of reliable midfielders hasn’t served Newcastle all too well, even under the leadership of Benitez last season. Jonjo Shelvey’s form has turned from bad to worse, and the ex-Liverpool prodigy clearly doesn’t have a future at the club. As for Ki Sung-Yeung, he has rarely been utilised.
As a result, the Magpies have often appeared overreliant on the services of Hayden and Longstaff. And while the latter was linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer, keeping hold of Hayden for the long-term would undoubtedly be a massive boost for the club.
As iterated earlier, Hayden’s presence in the middle third of the pitch has made the Magpies much more resilient and vigilant, in terms of their defensive game.
Besides, with Newcastle likely to invest in a new midfielder, Hayden’s experience in English football could be significant. And at the age of 24, he could potentially emerge as a real leader for the club within the coming years. However, it’s equally essential Newcastle spend their money wisely as far as buying a new midfielder is concerned.
