ISAAC HAYDEN is confident that working with Rafael Benitez will enable him to take his career to the next level.

Hayden became Newcastle United’s fifth summer signing yesterday when he penned a five-year deal to complete a £2.5m switch from Arsenal.

The 21-year-old, who can play in the back four or in defensive midfield, spent last season on loan at Hull City and was offered the chance to make a permanent move to the KC Stadium.

However, having met Benitez in person last month, he quickly concluded that St James’ Park was his preferred destination, and while he proved unable to force his way into the first team at Arsenal, he is hoping to enjoy plenty of senior success with Newcastle.

“I met him (Benitez) in London in the middle of June, and we had a good two-hour long conversation,” said Hayden, who has already travelled to Ireland to link up with his new team-mates on their pre-season training camp. “He explained a few things to me, what to improve and what I’m good at.

“It was good to know he’s obviously been watching my games and things like that. For me, as soon as that meeting was done, I knew this was the only place for me to come and the only manager I want to play under and learn from.

“It was brilliant. He was talking to me about tactical things, things that he’d learnt in the past – everything. So for me to have that initially was massive, and as soon as I left that meeting, I knew this was the right place for me to come.

“To meet him like that was fantastic, and to work under him now is going to be even better. I think the main thing I got from that meeting is I’m 100 per cent going to be a better player. I’m going to learn a lot from him while he’s my manager, so it was a no-brainer to come here.”

Hayden made two senior appearances for Arsenal after graduating through the London club’s academy, and will always be grateful to Arsene Wenger and his staff for guiding him through the start of his career.

“I joined when I was an Under-13, so I spent seven years there,” he said, in an interview with Newcastle’s website. “It was a great experience. I learned a lot there, and I have a lot to be thankful to Arsenal for.

“But it’s come to the stage now where I need to move on and progress in my career. Thankfully, Newcastle have handed me that opportunity.”

Newcastle remain determined to bring in another defender, and are poised to enter further discussions over Grant Hanley. Rovers rejected two offers for their skipper over the weekend.