Isaac Hayden arrived at Newcastle as a raw 21-year-old footballer who was still finding his way in the game, but has developed into a key midfielder and future leader of the side.
He has had to grow up quickly, and throughout the situation that led to him expressing a desire to leave, he constantly handled it with a maturity that belied his age.
Of course, things have almost come full-circle for him now, with him seemingly ready to commit his future to Newcastle, a decision the supporters played a huge part in.
Every time he speaks to the media, he has an air of leadership about him, in a similar way to that of Jamaal Lascelles, which is why many fans see him as a future captain of the side.
He spoke to the Chronicle about the team-spirit in the squad, calling it “massive”, and went on to say that despite the defeat at Liverpool, it is not those games that will make or break Newcastle’s season.
Hayden said: “Our season won’t be judged on playing Liverpool away.
“The games for us that we have to capitalise on are against Brighton.
“But we will take a lot from Anfield still.”
He is exactly right.
The manner of the performance in the defeat at Liverpool showed that they have the ability to beat the sides expected to be in and around us in May, and those games will ultimately define our success or failure this season.
Isaac Hayden has all the qualities needed to skipper a side
Being able to genuinely dissect a defeat, then identify and take the positives from it, again proves Hayden can be a natural leader at the club.
Of course, good sides have a number of captains in the team, regardless of who is wearing the armband, and in the likes of Lascelles, Hayden, Paul Dummett, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar, it is safe to assume Newcastle have just that.
It bodes well for the future, and is why Newcastle simply must get these players to be the long-term nucleus of the side for the years ahead.
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