OPINION
Rafa Benitez must permanently axe Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden from his team after the 23-year-old submitted a gutless display against Arsenal.
The Spanish manager surprisingly handed Hayden an opportunity to impress against the Gunners on Saturday and the player effectively threw it back in Benitez’s face.
Hayden, who earns a very respectable £22,000-a-week at St James Park (Source: Spotrac), could have put in a disappointing performance like many of his teammates against the Gunners and it would have been forgotten about.
As he simply would have blended in with the rest of his team but it’s the fact his poor display seemed a result of a lack of effort and lack of care on his part.
The 23-year-old’s display was gutless as there was times where he seemed give up the chase when it came to keeping up with Arsenal’s attackers and midfielders, particularly in the second half, where he let them to do what they wanted.
Hayden’s only appearance this season ahead of the Gunners clash was a 20 minute cameo appearance against Cardiff City and he foolishly got himself sent off.
So that means in both his outings during this campaign, Hayden has let his side down one way or another.
It was previously reported by the Daily Mirror that Magpies re-buffed any approach for the midfielder this summer despite him wanting to leave the club for personal reasons.
Given that he is a professional footballer it seemed like after being kept at St James Park, Hayden would get his head down and do his best for the team despite understandably wanting to move closer to his young family.
However given his performances this season, it’s clear that having his exit blocked has cause him to have a questionable attitude when it comes to delivering the best display he is capable of as there no way he’d be able to say he gave his all against Arsenal or the Bluebirds.
Therefore this means Hayden is unlikely to improve as his heart and head lay elsewhere which Benitez must permanently drop him as he is no good to the Magpies anymore as gutless displays are never going to aid their cause.
