Newcastle United given unwelcome injury scare
The Newcastle United midfielder was forced off with a hip problem and replaced by Ki Sung-yueng in last night's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, his former club, at the Emirates Stadium.
Hayden is being assessed ahead of Saturday's Premier League game.
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Hide Ad"We have Hayden complaining a little bit about his hip, but it seems that it’s not very serious," Benitez told BBC Radio Newcastle.
Jonjo Shelvey – who was an unused substitute at the Emirates Stadium – is likely to come into Benitez's thinking should Hayden fail to prove his fitness.
The 27-year-old was troubled by a thigh injury earlier this season and last started a Premier League game five months ago.
Speaking last month, Shelvey said: It's hard watching the team play and not being able to help. We should have nipped it in the bud early doors, but it wasn't to be.
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Hide Ad"I had numerous trips to Barcelona to get injections to try to sort it out.
"The doc said if I did it one more time I would have had to have surgery on it, so it was time to shut down, get it right and come back stronger for the end of the season."