Isaac Hayden breaks silence on transfer request and reveals why he has to leave Newcastle

Isaac Hayden says he must put his family first '“ and leave Newcastle United.
Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.
Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.

The midfielder has for a transfer at the end of last season for “family reasons”.

Hayden, signed from Arsenal two years ago, wants to return south be with his partner and baby.

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United manager Rafa Benitez, however, does not want to sell Hayden.

Speaking to the Gazette, Hayden said: “The club know my stance. I spoke to them at the start of the summer. I spoke to the manager, I spoke to the club.

“I let them know about the situation. I’ve done my bit for the club. I helped the club get promoted and I helped the club stay in the Premier League last season.

“I just hope that they can find a solution to help me with my situation. If not, I’m a professional, so I’m going to do my job, but they know my stance. It’s not changed.”

Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.
Isaac Hayden and Rafa Benitez.
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Hayden – who is interesting Brighton and Hove Albion – spoke about becoming a father, and his infant daughter’s stay in a London hospital, in an interview in February.

“It was definitely a massive ordeal with the birth, and it was difficult in December,” said the 23-year-old. “That month in December and January was difficult.

“It’s about managing the off-the-field things and getting on with things on the field. I think I did that well enough. It was a tough time, because she wasn’t well when she was born.

“She was in hospital for nearly two weeks in London, so it was difficult to manage the distance and the gap. Obviously, it was worrying times when you’re a dad and your daughter has just been born.”

Hayden says he must put his family first.

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“It’s a decision I didn’t come to very easily, but it was a decision I had to make,” said Hayden. “Football’s obviously important to me, but family’s a completely different ball game, and, for me, family takes precedence over football.

“I didn’t want to have to make the decision I made, but I felt there was no other alternative. I spoke with the club about it at the start of the off-season so they had plenty of time to be aware of it, but things haven’t materialised how I hoped they’d materialise.

“But, like I said, I’m still a professional. Whatever happens at the end of the window, I have to deal with it.”

The transfer window closes in two weeks, and Hayden is hopeful that a “solution” can be found between now and the deadline.

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“My stance hasn’t changed,” said Hayden. “The club know my stance hasn’t changed. It’s just about trying to find a solution which works best for the football club and works best for me.

“I’ve done my bit over the last two years to get this football club back kind of where it belongs in the top 10 of the Premier League, and I just hope they recognise that and help me with a solution.”

Benitez addressed Hayden’s situation last week during the club’s training camp in Ireland.

“We’ll try and help in the best way possible,” said Hayden. “He’s an important player for us, and we don’t want him to go. We’ll try to help him. If he needs some time to stay with his family, we’ll try to help. We don’t want to sell him.”

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Meanwhile, Hayden - who didn’t travel to Ireland with his team-mates - came off the bench in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against Hull City at the KCOM Stadium.

“It was my first minutes,” said the former England Under-21 international. “I haven’t really trained much, so any minutes were a bonus.

“I think everyone was a bit rusty. It wasn’t a great spectacle, but it’s more minutes in the bank for the lads, and we move on to the next game.”