What promotion taught United
HAYDEN: RETAINING MENTAL STRENGTH OF LAST SEASON HAS BEEN KEY
ISAAC Hayden believes Newcastle United’s never-say-die attitude has set the team up nicely for the season but is refusing to get carried away with their impressive start to the campaign.
The 22-year-old believes the work ethic instilled in the side during last season’s Championship title success has been carried through into this campaign.
That mentality has paid dividends again this season as shown when United grabbed a late winner in the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
“We found that the whole of last season,” Hayden said about playing to the end for the win. “There were games where people thought we would win, and we didn’t. Football changes all the time. You have games like Southampton, where we should have got three points.
“That’s football for you. There are ups and downs. We’re ready for that during the season.
“I don’t really think the lads do look at the table, because it’s pointless at this stage of the season as there are so many games to go and points to play for. It means nothing.
“The most important thing we look at is each game. Three points were up for grabs (against Palace) and we took them. The next game’s another opportunity to get three points.”
While Hayden has settled well into the Premier League after failing to make an appearance in the top flight while at Arsenal, he’s not resting on his laurels.
Speaking on his experience of playing in England’s top flight, he said: “That’s what everybody wants to do. Every player wants to play in the best division in the world.
“I’m just enjoying it. I’m going to have bad games and good games. But I’m learning as I go along and trying to improve week by week and take little things from each game.
“Staying fit this season is the most important thing for me. I just want to try and stay fit and do my best.” United’s Championship title win teed them up for this season but Hayden admits it has been a considerable step up for the Magpies. “The players are just better, that’s it,” Hayden said. “The tempo’s quicker. The players you’re playing against week in, week out are just better players. “The divisions don’t lie. The players who play at that level for a long time aren’t bad players. People might look at it and say ‘Crystal Palace are in the bottom three,’ but they’ve got some very good players in that team. They made it very difficult.” Hayden has been battling with Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino for his starting place and has kept the latter out of the side for the last two games, including against Palace. But it was the Spaniard who came off the bench and netted the late winner after Hayden made way for him just before the hour mark. “It was difficult, Palace are a good side,” he said. “Their position in the table doesn’t tell you the whole picture of their team. They’re a dangerous team, and they made it difficult. “Obviously, we had to get the three points. It wasn’t the way we wanted to do it, but three points was what we wanted. “It was difficult with the two lads up front on the counter-attack. They did that quite well. It was a different style of game, probably more difficult than what we’ve been used to. “Again, it’s a new challenge. We kept going to the end, and we got our rewards for it. It was a great header by Mikel. It got a slight deflection before it got to him, but it was a fantastic header to guide it into the net.”
I’m learning as I go along and trying to improve week by week and take little things from each game Isaac Hayden