Newcastle midfielder heads to Standard Liege after Hatters move falls through
Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has joined Belgian Pro League side Standard Liège on loan for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old had looked like he was going to move to Luton Town on a season-long loan ahead of the transfer window closing, but the deal ultimately fell through, with Town boss Rob Edwards saying: “He’s someone we had a look at, clearly, there was interest.
“He’s a good player but unfortunately we couldn’t quite agree a deal.”
Hayden, who suffered with injury while on loan at Norwich last season, restricted to just 14 appearances, has played 171 times for the Magpies after they shelled out £2.5m to sign him from Arsenal in July 2016, scoring seven goals, playing a part in the club winning the Championship title in 2016/17.
Speaking to the Les Rouches official website about his acquisition, director of football Fergal Harkin said: “ Isaac is a quality player with physical impact and leadership.
“He will also bring his great experience acquired on the Premier League pitches to his new teammates and I am convinced that he will help us a lot this season.”
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Ex-Norwich, Luton and Barnsley man returns to England – three years after crucial Portsmouth promotion penalty miss
Now Cameron McGeehan is back in the Football League following three years in Belgium’s top flight.
The 28-year-old has been snapped up by Colchester United as a free agent, days after the League Two strugglers recruited Jay Mingi.
McGeehan had been keen to return to England after leaving KV Oostende in the summer at the end of his contract.
He previously turned out for Luton, Norwich, Cambridge United, Barnsley and Scunthorpe as a midfielder with an eye for goal.
There was also a six-month loan spell at Fratton Park, where he totalled 17 appearances and two goals.
Recruited by Kenny Jackett in the January 2020 transfer window alongside Steve Seddon and Reeco Hackett, McGeehan was seen as an exciting capture.
Ultimately, however, his penalty miss against Oxford United in July 2020 signalled a 5-4 play-off semi-final shoot-out defeat as the U’s instead reached the final.
The following month, the Northern Ireland international followed team-mate Christian Burgess to Belgium, albeit joining Oostende.
Now he has signed a one-year deal with Colchester, who are presently 22nd in League Two.
‘You go away and you’re sort of forgotten about a little bit, which I find quite funny, because I’ve been playing in a top league.
‘I’ve had some really good discussions with Dmitri (Halajko) and it’s the perfect place to come and put my stamp down again in England.
‘I know Dmitri quite well from my time at Norwich. He was speaking to me a lot during the window about potentially coming down.
‘It worked out in the end that we managed to get everything organised and sorted and it’s good to be here.
‘I did three years in Belgium and it was a great experience. There are some really big clubs and you’re playing against Champions League teams.
‘The language, different culture; it was something that I really enjoyed. My wife moved over with me as well and we lived in Bruges, which is quite a cool place.
‘I just wanted to do something different and it was really enjoyable.’
McGeehan’s finest Pompey moment was undoubtedly in February 2020, when Jackett’s men netted twice in stoppage time to beat Exeter in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy at a vibrant Fratton Park.
Firstly the midfielder levelled to make it 2-2 – then John Marquis headed home the winner, six minutes into time added on.
