Isaac Hayden on Forest, his return to Hull and what Newcastle need to do

Rafa Benitez’s league leaders take on Nottingham Forest tomorrow night looking to put back-to-back defeats behind them.

Newcastle’s nine-game unbeaten run came to an end last weekend. And Hull City knocked United out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

Newcastle took the lead in extra-time, but Mohamed Diame’s strike was quickly cancelled out and the home side went on to win 3-1 on penalties.

“The good thing about football is there’s always an opportunity to bounce back quickly,” said Hayden.

“This cup game was unfortunate, and a bit frustrating on our part to concede almost straightaway after scoring the goal. We maybe need to show a bit more control there.

“But that can happen, it happened, it went to penalties and we lost.”

The cup game had an added edge for summer signing Hayden, who spent last season on loan at the KCOM Stadium from Arsenal.

“I was trying to prove myself against the lads who were playing ahead of me last season,” he said.

“It’s always good for me to try to show what I can do. I gave it 100% and I left it out on the pitch.”

Forest, 17th in the Championship table, have won their last two games.

“They’re all tough games in the Championship,” said Hayden. “The Blackburn match was tough too. This is exactly the same.

“They don’t come easy, and we need to regroup now.”