Ben Dinnery

Fri 1 April 2022 8:21, UK

Isaac Hayden deserves sympathy from Newcastle United fans as he may have to work all through the summer on his rehab programme.

That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.

Hayden, 27, has not played since a hamstring injury in December, but he had been struggling with a knee injury for some time before that.

He had surgery to correct the nagging problem and was not included in Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad for the second half of 2021-22.

As quoted by club media last Tuesday (22 March), Newcastle boss Eddie Howe revealed: “Touch wood, he’ll be back training soon.”

Dinnery hailed the midfielder’s hard work throughout his injury saga.

“I feel a little bit sorry for Isaac Hayden,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.

“He always gives his all for Newcastle, but to supporters, everything is black and white.

“He hadn’t been at his best before his injury because he had been managing that ongoing knee problem.

“But he always put everything on the line in various different roles and positions because he was needed. You have to commend players like that.

“But the decision was taken that he had to go under the knife. That was always with one eye on getting ready for pre-season.

“He’ll have maybe seven or 10 days and then he might just work through the summer.

“That way, he’ll hit the ground running when we resume next season.”

Hayden has scored once in 14 appearances this season.

He was recently fined by the FA for criticising referee David Coote after the Magpies’ 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on 13 March.

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