Steve Bruce has suggested that he will turn to Isaac Hayden to cover the absence of Fabian Schar and others.
The Switzerland international is facing the rest of the season out after suffering knee ligament damage against Southampton yesterday.
According to a statement from the club today, the player will ‘undergo further assessment with a specialist consultant in the coming days before beginning his rehabilitation with the club’s medical team’.
At the moment the club say they expect Schar to miss several months with the issue.
It is a big blow for Newcastle, who are currently without captain Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark.
The trio are not expected to be out for much longer, and judging by Bruce’s comments, it looks as though Isaac Hayden will be the first port of call for cover at centre-half.
He said (quoted by the Chronicle): “When he was a kid, he played there for Arsenal, and when I took him to Hull, I remember my chief scout at the time thought that his best position was as a centre-back.
“He thought Isaac’s best position was playing as a central defender, and when he produces a performance like that, then you can understand why.
“It’s good to have, and we certainly needed him. We’re down to the bare bones, and then with losing another one with Fab Schar, it’s a ludicrous situation really.”
Hayden position change?
£22,000-a-week star Hayden (Spotrac) at centre-half is something Newcastle fans should probably get used to from here on in.
He was sensational yesterday, and Bruce was clearly blown away by him in that role and he could now heed the advice of his former scout – Hayden has proven himself more than capable.
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