Newcastle United midfielder reveals talks with familiar face as first January transfer agreed

Isaac Hayden has revealed he spoke to Matt Ritchie before opting to join Portsmouth on loan.

The forgotten Newcastle United midfielder will spend the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign at Fratton Park in a bid to get his club career back on track.

Hayden had a successful spell at Queens Park Rangers in the second half of last season but was unable to find a new club in the summer.

The 29-year-old, who was first frozen out by Eddie Howe three years ago, has been restricted to a couple of under-21s appearances, although that didn’t prevent him from making his international debut for Jamaica in November.

“I’ve had five months where it’s been difficult for me, not a lot of game time and a lot of training,” said Hayden. “I managed to get a couple of games internationally which was good but I’m just really hungry to get playing again and contribute to something meaningful.

“It’s been beyond frustrating but these things happen in football for reasons a lot of fans probably don’t understand. But it is one of those where I have been so desperate to play and desperate to contribute to something meaningful.

“I got a little taste of that when I went away with Jamaica and pushing to win the quarter-final [vs USA]. It didn’t but just to be part of something again was nice and I’m looking forward to that now.”

The midfielder now links up with former Magpies teammate Ritchie. Both players were signed by Rafa Benitez ahead of the club’s 2016-17 Championship winning campaign before successfully battling relegation in the Premier League.

Ritchie was released by United last summer before being snapped up by his boyhood club. And he wasted little time in asking Hayden to join him on the South Coast.

“I know Matty really well, spent a long time with him at Newcastle, we had some successful years there together,” Hayden told Pompey’s club website. “Coming here, it’s just about helping the team the best I can. I’m not a young spring chicken anymore, I’m one of more older and experienced lads.

“I said to him [Ritchie] about saving me a seat on the bus. We’ve had a few conversations, he spoke to me a couple of months ago wondering if it was something I’d be interested in. it’s just good to get it done.”