Newcastle United senior exit ‘imminent’ as midfielder undergoes medical at Premier League rivals

Forgotten Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden will reportedly undergo a medical today ahead of joining Luton Town on a season-long loan.

The 28-year-old returned to Tyneside earlier in the summer after spending last season on loan at Norwich City. The Canaries were obliged to make his stay permanent if they sealed an immediate Premier League return but finished 13th, seven points outside the play-offs.

In turn, Hayden failed to impress the Norwich faithful after injuries restricted him to just 14 appearances. He twice underwent knee surgery at the beginning of the season and then in January.

Hayden, along with Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser - who on Friday joined Southampton on loan - have been training away from Eddie Howe’s first-team.

“I think I had those conversations with those players last year, where they trained separately from the group,” Howe said previously. “That was only so I could control the numbers that I was working with and maintain the focus of the players that were going to be part of our season.

“I don’t anticipate that changing, to be honest. Those lads have done very well, and they’ve been great lads and servants to the football club over many seasons. We certainly respect them, but sometimes you have to make a clear break and focus on the players that are going to be part of our season next year.”

But according to Football Insider, the former Arsenal man is set to be handed a Premier League lifeline by newly-promoted Luton. It’s claimed the Hatters have fought off competition from Middlesbrough, West Brom, QPR and Millwall with Hayden due to finalise his switch on Monday.

Hayden was recruited by Rafa Benitez in 2016 and in his first season helped United win the Championship title. In total, Hayden has made 171 appearances for the club, though last featured in December 2021 after being left out of the 25-man squad for the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.