Newcastle will be without their most reliable player at the worst time

As their struggles have continued, Newcastle United are staring down the barrel of relegation. Now, they will be without their most reliable player for the final nine matches of their Premier League schedule.

Isaac Hayden has been ruled out for the rest of the season by the club, but he will thankfully avoid surgery. He suffered a “significant knee injury” in the loss to Brighton when Yves Bissouma accidentally fell into his leg.

Hayden, who just turned 26 years old on Monday, made 24 appearances in the EPL this season. He also scored in the EFL Cup vs. Morecambe FC.

It’s a cruel twist of fate that Hayden is sidelined by an injury. Throughout the season, he was the player that stepped up when other Newcastle starters were injured. Whether he was playing in the central defense or central midfield, the club could always rely on Hayden.

Already facing a tall task to survive this season, Newcastle will now be without their most steady player.

While the absences of players like Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Callum Wilson are easy to notice, Hayden’s impact is more subtle but still massively impactful. He’s steady in possession and a difference-maker winning the ball back in the middle of the park.

Without him, Steve Bruce will have to turn to a less reliable player in the midfield or adjust his tactics. That will put the club in an even tougher spot as they look to pull out of their current plummet towards the relegation zone.

Hayden previously requested a move away from the club, but he signed a new six-year deal back in 2020 and the club will be eagerly waiting for his return ahead of next season.