Isaac Hayden has developed enormously as a footballer since his move to Newcastle from Arsenal, and he is now a pivotal player in the first team squad.
He had wanted to leave the club in order to be closer to his family in the south, but his stance has changed recently, and he is now open to staying at St James’ Park.
But it may turn out that his family was not the sole reason for him wanting to leave, depending on how you interpret his words when he spoke to the Chronicle.
He may have intimated that there were some divisions behind the scenes under Rafa Benitez – something that he says is not the case since Steve Bruce’s arrival.
He said: “The lads here all want to do well. Steve Bruce has got us together even more and made us better at it.
“You can now see that everybody is fighting for the same cause. We’re all trying to listen to what the manager wants us to do.
“We’re all trying to go in the same direction.”
When speaking about the players all being together, his use of “you can now see” is certainly suggestive that it was not the case last season.
Newcastle would do well to get Hayden to commit to Newcastle long-term
His altered position regarding staying on Tyneside would also intimate there has been a shift behind the scenes, and although it is all conjecture, maybe the atmosphere was more fractious than fans thought under Rafa.
Of course, it is all in the past now, and – like it or not – we have to look forward, and whatever the reasons, if Newcastle can get Hayden tied down to a new, long-term deal, the club will be much better off for doing so.
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