Isaac Hayden impressed in Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Cardiff City.
Newcastle United made it eight consecutive wins in all competitions, defeating Cardiff City 2-1 at St James’ Park this weekend.
It was not a vintage 90 minutes from the Magpies, with some fairly average performances in black and white, but one man that did shine was Isaac Hayden.
The central midfielder was paired with Jonjo Shelvey, with the former Arsenal man’s industrious style complimenting Shelvey’s desire to orchestrate proceedings for Newcastle.
It was not a pretty game of football, with lots of scrappy periods, which is where Hayden showed his worth, making challenges and picking up loose balls.
| Passing Accuracy | Duels Won | Aerial Duels Won | Tackles | Touches | Ball Recoveries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayden | 81% | 11 | 5 | 3 | 76 | 8 |
Throughout the opening months of the season, Hayden has been rotated with Jack Colback in partnering Shelvey, with both players showing they are more than capable of doing the dirty work while Shelvey takes the plaudits for his displays.
21-year-old Hayden got the nod against Cardiff, and his presence was essential to Newcastle getting the three points. He recorded the most duels won for a Magpies player, on the ground and in the air.
Hayden’s three tackles were only topped by Ayoze Perez who made four. Newcastle’s number 14 picked up eight loose balls, topping that stat for the club as well.
The summer signing had 76 touches of the ball, the fourth highest for a Newcastle player, and used it well, completing 81% of his passes.
The youngster has been one of Benitez’s best signings, and few fans would have expected Hayden to have such a big impact on the first-team so soon.
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