Isaac Hayden may have sealed his January exit following yet another shocking display for Newcastle.
On the chalkboard
Rafa Benitez was forced to hand Arsenal youth product Hayden his second Premier League start of the season at Liverpool on Boxing Day, but the 23-year-old spurned his chance to impress.
The game easily passed him by, and Sean Longstaff contributed far more for the Magpies, even though the 21-year-old only featured for 17 minutes as a second-half substitute.
WhoScored statistics are fraught reading for Hayden, who took fewer touches and attempted or completed fewer passes than Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.
Altogether, the Toon Army’s midfielder completed just ten accurate passes before the full-time whistle – only Yoshinori Muto attempted or completed fewer out of those who started at Anfield in black and white.
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Already unclear future
According to The Chronicle, Hayden already had an unclear future heading into the festive period, after his request to leave the club in the summer was rejected.
There was no expectation, either, that Benitez would target a new central midfielder in January with whatever funds are on offer, and instead would consider allowing Longstaff, Freddie Woodman or Jamie Sterry to leave on loan.
Hayden’s most recent dismal performance may change the club’s transfer plans, however, as should those options, and particularly Longstaff, leave on loan, it would be unlikely Benitez would consider signing off on his exit in case injuries tear through his already thin squad.
Back to the fringes
Hayden’s rare start on Boxing Day came after just 146 minutes of first-team football since the start of the season – his only other start came in September at home to his former side, Arsenal.
A performance like his at Anfield makes it hard to justify his selection in upcoming matches, as Newcastle continue to rest just outside the relegation spots having clawed four-points clear after beating Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium on December 15.