...and neither can Toon pal Schar by looks of it!

seriously, it is great to be out there again and, let’s face it, I am not one to shy away from contact.

“It is certainly nice to be involved like that again. Everyone wants that competitive edge back. It’s what we have been missing.

“Individual training is one thing but you lack that competition and desire to win.”

Newcastle are back in Premier League action in less than three weeks when they host Sheffield United behind closed doors at St James’ Park.

By then, it is expected that owner Mike Ashley will have gone, with Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium in charge.

While his long-term fate is up in the air, boss Bruce will almost certainly be in charge of a team who have pulled away from the drop zone and are eyeing a top-half finish this term.

The Magpies are also in the last eight of the FA Cup, with a home quarter-final against holders Manchester City scheduled for later this month.

Hayden added: “We want to finish the season as strongly as possible. It is massive that we now have an endgame to focus on.

“Training is now building up for a purpose. We have three weeks to do a lot more contact training, more shape and team-based stuff.

“It is more about 11-versus-11 and matchspecific training, rather than just the individualised stuff.”

While team-mate Danny Rose has expressed his reservations over football restarting, with hundreds still dying every day of the coronavirus, Hayden believes players are in a privileged position.

He said: “Obviously, everyone has individual cases, people close to you with health issues, but, personally, you could not be in a safer environment.

“There will be people out there, like builders, who are going back to work who are not being tested two or three times a week.

“And if they are doing that, there is no reason why we should not be doing our jobs.

“If we are getting tested, I do not see why it is an issue.

“Considering what is going on around the world with all this uncertainty, to be able to do your job in a safe environment and get paid for it is a privilege.”

CHAIRMEN at Premier League clubs face being banned from their own stadiums when the season resumes – because they are not deemed essential.

All those allowed into grounds from June 17 will have to be tested beforehand, as well as taking complete health questionnaires, and officials are desperate to keep the numbers down to the bare minimum.

Hundreds of club staff, including directors, executives and even chairmen and presidents, will be blocked from attending.

It will be a kick in the teeth to a host of executives and it is understood some are less than impressed.

The League has calculated it needs a minimum of 300 people for a match to take place behind closed doors, which includes players, officials, stewards, security, medics and the media.

A host of executives have been unable to attend Bundesliga games due to strict limits on numbers.

Premier League managers are also set to join forces and beg fans not to gather outside stadiums.