Newcastle United have moved another player out of the club after it was confirmed Jeff Hendrick has joined Reading on loan.
The midfielder will spend the entire 2022/23 season with the Royals, where he will hope to be a key player in blue and white.
Hendrick’s future at Newcastle has been in doubt ever since Eddie Howe arrived. He made just one appearance last season after the new manager arrived, and then joined QPR on loan until the end of the campaign.
A return to Tyneside hasn’t signalled a second chance for Hendrick. In fact, he’s been resigned to the reserves.
The 30-year-old has been training with Newcastle Under-21s alongside Ciaran Clark and Dwight Gayle, two more players who have no future at St James’ Park.
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They are yet to find new clubs, although Clark is on the brink of joining Sheffield United on loan. If that happens, he will come up against Hendrick next season.
Jacob Murphy wishes Jeff Hendrick luck at Reading
After the deal was confirmed, Hendrick took to Instagram to express his delight at joining Reading.
He wrote: “So excited to be a part of the Reading family. Looking forward to the season ahead! Let’s get to work.”
And get to work he did. Paul Ince’s side took on Maidenhead United in a friendly this afternoon, with Hendrick making his first appearance for his new club on the same day his move was confirmed.
He even managed to find the net, scoring in a 4-0 win. He will hope this is the start of a fruitful loan down south. It might even lead to a permanent move if he impresses enough.
Following his Instagram post, multiple Newcastle players took to the social media platform to comment on his move.
Jacob Murphy wrote: “Good luck jeffson.”
Federico Fernandez said: ‘Good luck mate.’
Mark Gillespie added: “All the best mate.”
The message from Gillespie is the same as what Isaac Hayden sent, who has also left Newcastle on loan this summer. He’s joined Norwich, and will hope to be competing for promotion to the Premier League.
As for Hendrick, he needs to get his career back on track after an underwhelming move to Newcastle. His transfer from Burnley hasn’t worked out, and the midfielder rarely impressed during a difficult time for the Magpies.
However, he will always be remembered for scoring the final goal of the Mike Ashley era.
But now Newcastle are going in a different direction, and so is Hendrick. Hopefully this move to Reading works out and he enjoys a great season in the second tier.