Steve Bruce reveals why he left Isaac Hayden on Newcastle United's bench
Steve Bruce has explained his decision to name Isaac Hayden on his Newcastle United bench.
Hayden was a late substitute in yesterday’s 2-1 win over Everton at St James’s Park. The midfielder – who had been an unused substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers a week earlier – had suffered a suspected hamstring injury against Manchester United last month.
And Bruce, unwilling to take any risks with Hayden, started Sean Longstaff, back from a bout of tonsillitis, in his midfield.
United’s head coach told NUFC TV: “Look, he’s had a hamstring. Whether it was or it wasn’t, something was niggling away. We know how genuine Isaac is, so the one thing we have to guard against is rushing back people. The amoung of injuries people are picking up, soft tissue injuries in particular, so we have to guard against it and make sure he is right.”
Newcastle take on Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium on Friday night.