Portsmouth can end their first campaign back in the Championship pleased with their efforts. Survival was the goal for Pompey and, despite some scares along the way, they achieved exactly that.
The focus was firmly on signing younger players to develop over the course of the season with experienced additions few and far between. However, the Fratton Park club did make a couple older signings in the winter to add some more steel and knowhow to the ranks.
Among them was Isaac Hayden, who joined on loan from Newcastle United. The defensive midfielder proved a steady option for Pompey, starting 12 games and making five appearances off the bench.
Upon the season’s end, questions have inevitably been asked over the possibility of a permanent Portsmouth move, but Hayden has made it clear such an outcome will not be coming to fruition.
Speaking to The News, the Newcastle loanee revealed he made the loan switch knowing a permanent stay was unlikely to be on the cards, though insisted everyone won by striking the temporary deal. Amid his Portsmouth loan end, Hayden said:
“When I came to the club initially it was a “you help me and I’ll help you situation”. I don’t think there’s anything more than that.
“I think financially it’s a little bit of a difficult conversation and also when I spoke to people at the end of January when I signed, the situation was the club want to go in a younger direction. I don’t think they want to go with players who are my age and above.
“So it’s one of those where they gave me the games and the platform to play, I’ve played, done well and we’ve stayed up – everyone’s a winner.
“I knew already for a while it was going to be a situation like that, and they were the circumstances I was coming here under.”
Under no false pretences
Loan deals are regularly struck with a view to the move possibility becoming permanent, or at least with such an outcome being explored. However, it seems that was never on the cards for Portsmouth with Hayden.
The signing was a smart one though, one that all parties needed. Hayden needed to play given his place way down the pecking order at Newcastle while Pompey were in need of midfield depth and some valuable experience.
At Fratton Park, the 30-year-old has found the action he desired while bringing the desired pedigree too. He was a steady player for John Mousinho but as for the future, he will be thanked for his efforts and embark on pastures new.
Time will tell just what awaits Hayden in the North East, but he will certainly hope this summer finally brings a permanent move.
Midfielders needed at Portsmouth
As the loans of Hayden and Freddie Potts come to a close, Portsmouth head into the summer window knowing they need new midfield additions. There has been a vocal desire from fans to see Potts return for a second stint, but the decision over his fate is in the hands of parents club West Ham.
Beyond those two, Pompey have Andre Dozzell, Marlon Pack and Abdoulaye Kamara.
Dozzell will be staying after survival triggered a contract extension, but Pack struggled to make the step back up to Championship football and mainly covered at centre-back while Kamara found opportunities extremely scarce.
It means a handful of additions are needed in the midfield this summer, but Hayden won’t be among them.
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