EFL rules could block Newcastle United midfielder from playing after January loan move.
Isaac Hayden, a Newcastle United midfielder, is on loan to Championship side Portsmouth until the end of the season. Hayden hasn’t played for Newcastle since December 2021 and has spent the last few seasons on loan with various clubs. In January, he joined Championship strugglers Portsmouth on a half-season loan. Pompey’s fortunes have improved since Hayden’s arrival, with the club climbing out of the Championship relegation zone and into 18th place in the league. Portsmouth has won four of Hayden’s six Championship starts since his arrival. While Hayden’s spot in the Portsmouth matchday squad appears to be guaranteed, EFL restrictions could complicate issues.
EFL rules regarding loan players
The Football League allows clubs in the Championship, League One, and League Two to register a maximum of five loan players in their matchday squad. Portsmouth currently has six loan players named to their 24-man Championship squad. As a result, one loan player must be left out of the matchday team each week. Portsmouth’s five loan players in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Oxford United were Mark O’Mahony, Kaide Gordon, Adil Aouchiche, Robert Atkinson, and Hayden. Freddie Potts, who is on loan from West Ham United, has missed the last two games with a calf injury. Potts has been a regular in the Portsmouth side this season and gives Hayden direct competition for a midfield place.
Pompey manager John Mousinho has hinted that Potts ‘will hold his spot’ whenever he returns to full fitness. “Nobody is an automatic selection, but I certainly think that, when Freddie’s available, he more than deserves to be on the team-sheet at the moment,” he told the newspaper.
“As long as he plays as well as he’s been playing, he will keep his place.
“We have been playing him game after game. January was an extraordinarily crazy month in terms of the number of matches we had. If I had thought there had been a major dip with Freddie, I would have pulled him out of the side, but I did not.” Prior to Potts’ injury, Brighton striker O’Mahony was the only loan player who did not make the matchday squad for Portsmouth. However, after Portsmouth bought four loan players in January, Mousinho will face a difficult issue in balancing the loan players in his matchday squad when everyone is fit. As a result, Hayden’s position in the squad is being scrutinised more than others.
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
Leave a Reply