Steve McClaren's Jamaica could call up forgotten Newcastle United star
Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden could be set for a shock return to football on the international stage.
Teamtalk claims the Magpies midfielder is to switch international allegiances to Jamaica and link up with ex-Magpies boss Steve McClaren. The former Toon boss, who took charge of the Reggae Boyz in July earlier this year, has reportedly offered Hayden a route back into football.
The 29-year-old who has been frozen out of the Newcastle first-team by Eddie Howe, had been expecting to leave the club during the summer transfer window, but no move would come to fruition. Hayden, who has represented England all the way up from U16 level to U21, looks set to switch his international allegiance to try and help Jamaica qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America.
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The report says the Magpies midfielder qualifies to play for Jamaica through his father and that paperwork is currently being finalised ahead of November's international break. McClaren is on the lookout for English-born talents to bolster Jamaica's ranks with Hayden fitting the bill.
He's spent the last few seasons on loan, with Norwich City, Standard Liege and QPR, and had been linked with a move back to Marti Cifuentes' side earlier this summer. The former Arsenal midfielder pulled on the black and white stripes earlier this month in front of just 292 fans.
The £50,000 a week midfielder, played an hour of Newcastle U21s National League Cup clash with Halifax Town. The Toon ran out 2-1 winners at the Shay, with Hayden getting his first appearance for the club since 2021 - a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City early in Howe's stint in charge as boss.
It represents a change in tact from Hayde, who previously told Belgian media: "I don’t see myself as an opportunist, getting selected for Jamaica [now]. I don’t want to take the place of someone who has played a lot of matches and take their World Cup place. It [will] always be a dream to play for England.”