Newcastle fans claim Isaac Hayden was missed in Crystal Palace defeat

Newcastle United slipped to an away defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League – and some of the club’s supporters on Twitter believe that Isaac Hayden’s absence was a contributing factor.

The Magpies were beaten 1-0 at Selhurst Park, with Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick just before half-time separating the teams.

Valentino Lazaro received a red card in stoppage time for his last-ditch foul on Wilfried Zaha and it was a frustrating match for Steve Bruce’s team.

It means that Newcastle stay seven points above the drop zone in the league table in a fairly decent position, but may still need a couple of victories this season to ensure top-flight survival.

(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

A selection of Newcastle supporters on social media want Hayden recalled to the team to add his extra defensive steel in the midfield.

The 24-year-old usually slots into a defensive midfield role to help protect the backline and has been a regular starter during the campaign.

But the English enforcer has now been named on the bench in back-to-back league matches and was an unused substitute against Palace.

Newcastle host an in-form Burnley next weekend in the league and it will be intriguing to see if Hayden is recalled.

Here are some Newcastle fans on Hayden:

What’s Hayden done to be dropped

— Harry Best (@HarryBestNUFC) February 22, 2020

Get the loan players out! Bring back in Yedlin, Ritchie and Hayden who got us into this position @NUFC

— George Armstrong (@G_Armstrong1) February 22, 2020

Hayden and matty should play in the mid #nufc

— hafiz azman (@hafizzain2) February 22, 2020

Hayden must be scratching his head… arguably our best CM and can’t get a game! Team selection in the last few games has been baffling

— Dobby Solano (@DobbySolanoNUFC) February 22, 2020

I’d put Hayden on, being played through too easily #nufc

— Zaharaddeen Wanka (@Zee530) February 22, 2020

Isaac Hayden has been our best player this season and big Steve drops him again! Some man!! #nufc

— Paddy Coulthard (@CoulthardPaddy) February 22, 2020

Baffles me how Issac Hayden isn’t starting not one defensive minded midfielder on the pitch

— ᴍᴀᴛᴛ (@MRB1892) February 22, 2020

Punished for not playing Hayden. Haven’t got a ball winner in there to break up play. #nufc

— Jack Charlton (@J4CK_NUFC) February 22, 2020