To do your job and be paid for it is a
ISAAC Hayden says Newcastle United players are simply grateful to be back to work ahead of Project Restart in the Premier League.
At this time of year footballers are normally jetting off to exotic locations to recharge for the new season but the world is still readjusting to the new normal and like the fans, Toon players face more time at home during the uncertainty in the UK.
The traditional pre-season training in July has definitely been scrapped and the 2020/21 season will kick off later than planned.
For now, Newcastle must focus on completing their remaining nine matches of the Premier League campaign and tackle their FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City.
Hayden said: “There was always a Catch 22, there was always a concern on whether to scrap the season and then restart.
“But they have found a happy medium.
“It’s five weeks of matches and we’ll be finishing July 25 and then having a few weeks off and then pre-season.
“I think it works quite well.”
The situation is a far cry from 12 months ago when
Hayden and his team-mates had already finished the season with a 13th place finish before being told to rest up ahead of a July trip to China. Hayden said: “Realistically, everybody would be jetting off on holiday and doing things differently to how we are now.
“We wouldn’t be training in this weather now.
“It is different but we have to get on with it.
“These circumstances are unprecedented.
Isaac Hayden To do you your job and be paid for it is a privilege.”
There were weeks of uncertainty during the summer with Newcastle’s last encounter coming way back in March when a 1-0 win over Southampton put them eight points clear of the relegation zone.
United were within swinging distance of top-flight safety and Hayden is eager to get the completed with games against Sheffield United and then Aston Villa up first.
Hayden, speaking to the club’s TV channel, said: “It is massive to have something to focus on because you have an end game.
“It was a good idea to get the date as soon as possible.
“We have it now so we can prepare well and finish the season as strongly as possible.”
United players have been tested three times a week since returning to training and Hayden sees the position of the squad as a privilege.
At first the changes at Benton were a shock to the system but players have grown used to getting swabs on a frequent basis.
The former Arsenal player added: “The PM had his speech and said if you can go back to work, go back. “You can’t be off forever. “You’d always have to start to build life and the economy again.
“There are builders who are going back to work who aren’t getting tested two or three times a week.
“If they’re doing that, there is no reason why we aren’t doing their jobs and if we are getting tested I don’t see there being an issue.” ‘Money doesn’t come for free’ is the old adage we’ve heard a million times before, but at InYourArea this may no longer be the case with our new free daily scratch card!
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