Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden says he turned down the chance of staying in the Premier League to join Newcastle in the summer.
The 22 year old moved from Arsenal at the start of the season, and he told the Chronicle that he felt he needed first team football to improve himself as a player, and he didn’t think he would be a regular if he traded the Gunners for another team in the same division.
“I didn’t want to go straight from a Premier League club of the stature of Arsenal to then try to get in at a Premier League club again. I needed the chance to actually improve as a player to get to the level of being a Premier League player because you don’t want to go from Premier League to Premier League and then be in the same position and not play because you don’t improve.”
Hayden was on loan at Hull City last campaign, and helped the Tigers to promotion through the playoffs. The Premier League side were reportedly keen on signing the midfielder on a permanent basis but it seems they weren’t going to offer him first team football.
The move to St James’ Park has certainly paid off for Hayden. Manager Rafa Benitez has started the England Under 21 international on a regular basis, with the midfielder playing 35 games in all competitions this season, only missing out on some matches because of an ankle injury which kept him out of action for six weeks.
