OPINION
There is no doubting that Newcastle United’s squad is worryingly threadbare and the fact that one missing player can lead to a wantaway talent playing shows how dire the situation is.
The player who is absent for the Magpies is South Korean international Seung-Yung Ki, and the man who has taken his place is Isaac Hayden, who the Chronicle claim still wants out of St James’ Park after failing to secure a summer exit.
After a slow start to his career, Ki has established himself as one of the club’s top performers this season and he is quite clearly missed on Tyneside, Hayden taking his place in the side for the last four matches across all competitions.
It is already quite embarrassing that Rafael Benitez has had to call upon someone who does not want to be at the club, so it would be a shambles to keep him in as a regular part of the first team squad rather than shipping him out as soon as possible.
However, that would have been the exact fear for Benitez and the Toon Army when Ki picked up a muscular injury on duty with his country, giving Hayden a possible chance at regular game time for the near-future.
Thankfully, the South Korean FA have confirmed via their official Twitter account that the Newcastle man has picked up a minor setback and should only be out for a week – cue a huge sigh of relief on Tyneside.
[#NOTICE] ??? ?? ?? ?? ??, ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ? ??? ??? ????, ????? ??? ?????. #AsianCup2019 #???? #??? #KISungyueng pic.twitter.com/9OGwN2sHDf
— theKFA (@theKFA) January 8, 2019
Newcastle have been lucky to avoid the absolute shambles that would have occurred with Hayden in the team, but it goes to show how lacking in quality the side is this season.
Getting the wantaway midfielder out should have been a priority for Benitez this winter but the cards that have been dealt his way mean he has had to not only consider him but start him – only at Newcastle.