HAYDEN:WHAT A GREAT YEAR FOR MAGPIES

ISAAC HAYDEN insists Newcastle have made big progress in the last 12 months.

Rafa Benitez’s side are struggling with one win in 12 games, including nine defeats, but the Toon midfielder says it is not all doom and gloom on Tyneside.

Even though United sit just above the drop zone, and are in need of inspiration, Hayden (above, left) said: “If you told anyone connected with Newcastle, last January 1st, that we’d be standing here at the end of the year in the position we’re in, everyone would have bitten your hand off.

“We’ve seen how difficult it is to get out of the Championship for the teams that have been relegated last season.

“It’s not easy to get out of that division, but we did that, and then we had a good start to the season in the Premier League.

“So, yes, we’ve had a couple of bad months, but we’re a young group still learning and getting better at this level.

“I’m sure, in the second half of the season, you’ll see a better Newcastle United.

“The main thing is to stay in the league this season, because this is where everyone in the dressing room wants to play football.

“It’s up to us to stay in the league, then try to get as high as we can. Then we can see where we can go next season too.”

Benitez (above, right) reckons, with three new signings, the Magpies could compete between 15th and 10th this season. But relegation is possible, unless the Spaniard gets investment.

He’ll also have to sell to raise cash to add to his budget of around £10million.

He won’t sell Jonjo Shelvey to West Ham, unless he has replacements lined up, and said: “Shelvey? If we don’t bring players in, we won’t lose players, even if they are not happy or playing.”

Hayden, 22, reckons Newcastle are falling the wrong side of tight margins, and added: “The Premier League is tight. The Everton game that could have gone either way, or Brighton away at the start of the season, Burnley away or Bournemouth at home (all prove that).

“If we’d won all of those, we would have had a hell of a lot of points. All the games are going to be tight, especially against teams in and around us.

“There have been some cagey affairs, but we’ve had some intense games recently.

“The main thing for us was to get a clean sheet on Saturday, against Brighton, because we haven’t done that in a while.

“Defensively, we were sound, and we didn’t give mistakes away.

“The last three games, you can’t question the commitment. Everyone leaves everything out there on the pitch.

“Games are decided on fine margins, and it’s important we push the margin back towards us, rather than against us.”