£40k-a-week Newcastle outcast set for Championship exit

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Newcastle United midfielder Jeff Hendrick is set for a move to a Championship club.

According to journalist Darren Witcoop, Jeff Hendrick will likely leave Newcastle United before the transfer deadline passes and is destined to return to the second tier of English football.

Eddie Howe has made no secret of the fact that there is no place for Hendrick at Newcastle. The former Burnley midfielder, along with Ryan Fraser and Isaac Hayden, was confirmed as being surplus to requirements at St James’ Park. However, to date, only Fraser has secured an exit from the Tyneside club, having joined Southampton on loan.

Hendrick is likely to join the Scottish winger in the Championship. He also spent last season in that division, during a loan stint of his own with Reading. The 31-year-old enjoyed some much-needed regular game time with the Royals, making 46 appearances and scoring 4 goals over the course of the campaign. However, Hendrick couldn’t spare Reading from relegation to League One.

What next for Jeff Hendrick?

Things never really worked out for Hendrick on Tyneside. He joined the club on a free transfer from Burnley in 2020, but never established himself as a regular starter and quickly fell down the pecking order. He managed 23 outings in all competitions in his first season, but made just 4 appearances in total over the course of the subsequent campaign.

The £40,385-a-week midfielder needs to find pastures new on a permanent basis where he can rebuild his career. The 79-cap Republic of Ireland international also needs to ensure that he is playing regularly at club level in order to maintain his involvement in the Ireland national team set up.

Hendrick has his qualities. He lacks the ability required to feature for Newcastle at the level Howe has led the club to, but that notwithstanding, Hendrick remains a reliable and experienced operator in the middle of the park. There ought to be plenty of Championship clubs who would value his services.