OPINION
Isaac Hayden has made no secret of his desire to leave Newcastle United, and yet Rafa Benitez continues to play the midfielder.
Hayden started once again for the Magpies on Saturday as they kept their FA Cup hopes alive with a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Championship side Blackburn Rovers, lasting just an hour before being hauled off.
It was another woeful display from the 23-year-old midfielder, who has continually failed to prove that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Obviously there are things happening behind-the-scenes that are affecting his displays, with Hayden openly admitting he wants to exit the club for personal reasons.
Speaking this week, as quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “It is unchanged and the club have known that from day one. It wasn’t going to change. My family, my partner and daughter will always come first.”
While that is all well and good, with Hayden’s personal life obviously more important, there is no reason why he should ever play for the club again.
If his performances on the pitch were up to scratch, and he was helping the team win some matches, then it would be understandable that Benitez continues to play him.
But the fact is that his displays are illustrative of the fact he wants to leave, with Hayden looking like he does not want to be playing for the club anymore.
Keeping a player like that around and playing is totally counterproductive from Benitez, and he must now end Hayden’s Newcastle playing career before engineering an exit this month for the midfielder.
Saturday was the final nail in the 6’1″ ace’s [Transfermarkt] coffin on Tyneside, and he must never play for the club ever again, with fans deserving more than a player who clearly does not want to be there.