OPINION
One of the many Newcastle United players who excelled in the team’s 4-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday was undoubtedly Isaac Hayden.
The 24-year-old was superb in an unfamiliar right wing back role, as he slotted in at the back superbly after a phenomenal run of games in central midfield.
However, the club’s supporters will likely be left feeling conflicted when they consider the fact that this was surely the former Arsenal man’s last game for the Magpies.
The Telegraph reported earlier this month that the midfielder is determined to leave St James’ Park this summer as he bids to join his young family down south.
That has been Hayden’s stance for a year now and so you would think, with all compassion, that the club will grant him his wish this summer.
And so it will have been bittersweet for the team’s fans to watch him strutting his stuff at Craven Cottage, in an unfamiliar position no less. It will be a shame for them to see a valuable asset like him walk out the door, but you need to understand his position here.
It’s going to be tough for the club to replace Hayden, though. Jonjo Shelvey and Mohamed Diame both have uncertain futures at this moment in time, leaving just Sean Longstaff and Ki Sung-yueng as established central midfield talents.
Hayden, though, given his form over the past few months, would likely be missed the most of any of those potential departures. He has been superb since the turn of the year and that only continued on Sunday.
Alas, his performance against the Cottagers will likely be the Englishman’s final outing in a black and white shirt. Still, at least it was a good one.
