Fresh blow as Hayden has knee op

NEWCASTLE United’s injury crisis has deepened after Isaac Hayden went under the knife for a knee operation.

The Magpies’ options in midfield have already been reduced over the festive period due to the absence of Joe Willock and Matt Ritchie.

However, Hayden has confirmed a fresh injury blow by posting a picture of himself lying on a bed with a knee brace on.

Eddie Howe is expected to clarify the injury news in full today, but Hayden himself posted on social media: “My new best friend for a while.”

Newcastle are still shaking off a bout of Covid but will be without Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson for the early part of the year.

Ryan Fraser is also suffering with a hamstring injury but Paul Dummett is edging closer to fitness after a calf problem.

Howe has said Wilson’s injury could keep him sidelined for ‘months’.

■ Allan Saint-Maximin could be ready to return in time for Newcastle United’s crucial clash with relegation rivals Watford.

That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries website and is confident the attacker has a ‘low-grade’ calf injury.

Saint-Maximin opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Monday night, but required treatment before his substitution in the second half.

Eddie Howe had already been forced to replace top goalscorer Callum Wilson.

The head coach has since indicated Saint-Maximin’s knock is not as serious, but as yet no return date has been given for the French forward.

Dinnery does not believe Howe would consider risking SaintMaximin for the FA Cup thirdround tie with League One outfit against Cambridge United on January 8, and has earmarked the home clash with Watford a week later as a likely return date.

He told Football Insider: “I spotted that he’d indicated that it was an issue with his right calf.

“If he is saying that he is going to be out for a couple of weeks, we are talking a low-grade injury.

“He will have MRI imaging to confirm the extent of that problem. That would suggest that it is maybe a grade one going into a grade two.”