Rafa’s eager to hold on to Hayden

RAFA Benitez has pledged to do everything he can to help midfielder Isaac Hayden and keep him at the club.

The former Arsenal man has submitted a transfer request and there is already interest from Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion.

But Benitez knows that he can’t simply offload a key squad player without assurances of bringing in a replacement.

Benitez, speaking from Newcastle’s training camp in Ireland yesterday, said: “We will try to help him because he said he has personal problems, try to help in the best way possible.

“At the same time, I have to protect the team and the club.

“We will see if we can find the best solution possible but we want to keep him because he’s an important player for us.”

With Mikel Merino gone – having signed for Real Sociedad – Benitez feels that keeping Hayden happy is the best solution all round.

He said: “We have to think about him and his situation and if we can help.

“I told already he can take extra days off, so it’s not an issue.

“It’s just to manage and be sure he has the motivation we need from everyone.

“When we signed him, he was at Hull, so we gave him the opportunity to stay in the Premier League, and we are trying to support him now.”