Most of the Newcastle transfer news in the coming weeks will focus on the acquisition of a midfielder, since this is the most depleted position for Eddie Howe due to injury and suspension concerns. But let's not forget that a player will soon arrive back at St James Park who might just feel like a new signing.
Newcastle transfer news: Eddie Howe will receive midfield boost with shock return
Indeed, the consensus is that Isaac Hayden, the defensive midfielder sent out on loan by Newcastle United, will return to St James Park this month. This is due to his loan move to Standard Liege essentially failing as he is struggling for game time. What Eddie Howe plans to do with the 28-year-old remains to be seen.
Hayden is a midfielder who was seen as the next big thing when he first broke onto the scene at Arsenal. However, several years down the line and it's safe to say that he hasn't maximised his potential and his career isn't where he would've anticipated it to be at this stage.
But a change in mentality could be enough to see him win over Eddie Howe and being under contract at St James Park and I would personally be a big fan of a potential redemption story. However, it's unlikely that he's in the long-term plans of Howe, since he failed to impress while he was out on loan.
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Speaking on the return to Newcastle, Standard Liege CEO Pierre Locht had the following to say:
"“It’s likely that he won’t come back, yes. We wanted a player who brought an immediate superior quality to the team. Isaac had a lot of experience in the Premier League. He’s a true number six, capable of settling the game, a stable element. But, in the image of the team, he had some good games but was then too inconsistent.”"Pierre Locht on Isaac Hayden
What do you make of today's Newcastle transfer news?