Eddie Howe must be ruthless in his decision-making over the next few months as Newcastle United undergo a squad shakeup ahead of playing Champions League football next season and he has told Isaac Hayden to find a new club.
Two Newcastle loanees are due to return to the club next month and both have been told they will need to find a new club this summer.
It’s the tough reality of football that as the team evolves, some players have to be cut loose. I can’t imagine it feels great to do, but Howe has had to have that difficult conversation with Isaac Hayden and Jeff Hendrick. According to The Northern Echo, both have been told their futures lie elsewhere.
Hayden and Hendrick both struggled on loan this season and Howe has made up his mind
Both players have had poor loan spells. Hayden’s season has been fraught with injuries at Norwich and Hendrick could not prevent Reading‘s relegation into League One.
Neither will be offered permanent deals by their loan clubs and Eddie Howe has told them they have no future at Newcastle either, saying: “I had those conversations with those players last year, where they trained separately from the group.
“That was only so I could control the numbers that I was working with and maintain the focus of the players that were going to be part of our season.
“I don’t anticipate that changing, to be honest. Those lads have done very well, and they’ve been great lads and servants to the football club over many seasons. We certainly respect them, but sometimes you have to make a clear break and focus on the players that are going to be part of our season next year.”
It will be bittersweet to see Isaac Hayden leave Newcastle
Isaac Hayden still has three years remaining on his contract at Newcastle whereas Hendrick’s expires next year. I don’t think it will be too controversial to say that Hendrick won’t be a big miss. Other than a rasping goal on his league debut, he’s not really done much for Newcastle.
Hayden meanwhile has been a great servant to the club and his adaptability was key for Newcastle back in the dark days. While he’s probably not up to the level we’re currently at and definitely not at the level we’re aiming to be next season, it will be a bittersweet moment when the 28-year-old leaves the club.
