Boss reveals agreement with Hayden

RAFA Benitez admits Newcastle United “had an agreement” with Isaac Hayden whereby the wantaway midfielder could have departed during the January transfer window had a replacement arrived.

However, the United manager has been impressed by how Hayden coped with the disappointment of a loan move to either West Bromwich Albion or Aston Villa collapsing on transferdeadline day.

The Magpies were attempting to negotiate a loan deal to bring Greece midfielder Andreas Samaris to Tyneside from Benfica last in the January window, but they failed to agree a fee with the Portuguese club.

As a result, Benitez informed Hayden (below) on the morning of January 31 he would need to remain at St James’ Park for the second half of the season, despite the midfielder having handed in a transfer request last summer due to his desire to move closer to his daughter and her mother in South Wales.

Yet Benitez has been struck by the professionalism of Hayden, who has yet to miss a minute of Premier League action so far in 2019 - having only started twice before the turn of the year.

Although Mo Diame and Ki Sung-yueng are back from respective hip and hamstring injuries, Benitez has suggested Hayden may continue in midfield against Wolves tonight.

The Spaniard said: “It is true he has come back well.

“We were talking to him in January and we had the agreement we will be looking for a midfielder, trying to find a solution to the problem.

“At the same time, he knew if we could not find someone he had to stay here.

“His attitude has been fantastic, he has been training really well and I think now he is enjoying himself because he is playing.”