Isaac Hayden, born on a dreary day in March, 1995 (which, if my arithmetic serves me right, makes him 30 these days), is an English lad who's somehow managed to make a career in the beautiful game. Spending his professional life primarily as a central defensive midfielder, a role that amalgamates the security of defence and the passion of the midfield - he's found himself donning the black and white stripes of Newcastle United. Quite a solid bloke, he stands at 6ft 1in (1.87m) and tips the scales at 12st 6lb (79kg).
For those with fond memories, his career commenced with a rather uninspiring debut season in 2015 - 2016 at Hull City, where he managed to scrape together 18 first team appearances and crowbarred in a solitary goal. Remember that one? Me neither.
His performances must've made somebody swoon though, because in Newcastle he's been a relatively regular fixture. Between the seasons 2016 - 2021, he's trotted onto the pitch between 24 and 33 times a year, even managing to put the ball in the back of the net on rare occasions (five goals in total, if you care about such trivialities).
In the current season (2021 - 2022), he's opted for a luxury break (no doubt enjoying the English weather), making a modest 14 appearances for the Magpies and scoring once. And just for good measure, he did the same last season.
Suddenly, 2022 - 2023 found Isaac responding to the lure of Norwich City, where he graced the pitch a mere 14 times. Perhaps a fan of local delicacies, our man soon made a surprise switch to Belgium's Standard Liege. Yet, after only 10 appearances, he promptly handed in his waffle iron and returned to England to play for Queens Park Rangers, this time notching up 17 appearances.
This brings us to the present season, 2024 - 2025, where our globe-trotting hero has landed at Portsmouth. Only time will tell whether he'll leave a lasting impact, but so far he's managed to wear the Pompey jersey 17 times. If history is any guide, Isaac might have a few more turns of the wheel before he hangs up his boots. There's hope for us all, it seems.
