Hayden hoping to rebuild bond with fans

Isaac Hayden is hoping that he’s winning Newcastle United fans back over – after being denied a move away from the club.

Hayden scored in Monday night’s 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The midfielder’s strike was cancelled out by a controversial 95th-minute goal from Willy Boly.

Hayden has asked to leave the club for family reasons in the last two transfer windows. However, Rafa Benitez wouldn’t let the 23-yearold go because he wasn’t able to secure a replacement.

Hayden’s strike at Molineux was his first since October 2017.

“It meant a lot – I haven’t scored for a while,” said Hayden. “It’s just helping the team. Whether I score or someone else scores, it doesn’t matter.

“It’s just disappointing to not get the three points, especially because I think the fans deserved that.

“They travelled down on a Monday night, and it was packed out again, so credit to them. They deserved a lot more.”

Hayden celebrated his strike in front of United’s 2,500 travelling fans, and the former England Under-21 international hopes to re-establish a bond with those supporters who were unhappy at his transfer request.

“Of course, I feel the positive vibes,” said Hayden, signed from Arsenal in the summer of 2016.

“Everyone will have opinions about certain things, but I’m a one of those people who wears their heart on their sleeve. I’m always honest, I’m never going to hold back or hold emotions in.

“If some people don’t like it, they don’t like it. If they like it, then fair enough.

“I don’t think anyone can look at the performances and effort in the past few games and think that I’ve not been committed or I haven’t given everything for the cause.

“I’ve tried my best in every game. Some games I’m going to play badly; some games I’ll be good.

“The minimum is the effort, and I don’t think I’ve lacked that.”