NEWCASTLE UNITED will reassess Isaac Hayden’s position at the club in January, although Rafael Benitez claims the midfielder is much more settled than he was at the start of the season.

Hayden submitted a formal transfer request in the summer, citing family reasons as an explanation for his desire to leave the North-East.

With his partner and child having relocated to the South-West, Hayden expressed a desire to move on from the Magpies, and Brighton made a number of inquiries about the possibility of taking him to the Amex Stadium.

Rafael Benitez ruled out such a move when it became clear he would struggle to sign an experienced replacement, and Hayden remained on Tyneside when the window closed in mid-August.

However, his first appearance of the campaign did not exactly go to plan as he received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Cardiff midfielder Josh Murphy within 21 minutes of coming off the substitutes’ bench in a goalless draw at the Cardiff City Stadium.

He was involved in just one of Newcastle’s next nine league games after his dismissal, but returned to the fold as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

With Jonjo Shelvey injured, Hayden is the only alternative to Ki Sung-yueng and Mo Diame at the heart of midfield, and Benitez continues to regard him as an important member of the squad.

However, with a major overhaul planned for January, the 23-year-old’s future will be re-examined when the transfer window reopens.

“At the moment he wants to be here,” said Benitez. “Does he see his future here? I think so. But we will see in the future. But for now, it doesn’t matter. He is here, and he has to keep going.

“He is fine. At the start of the season, it was all a bit confused. But he is okay. He played against Cardiff and got sent off. After that, Diame and Shelvey were playing well and Ki has Premier League experience, so it has been difficult for him. Because of the balance of the bench, we have decisions to make all the time, but he is fine.”

Hayden was an influential member of the Newcastle side that won promotion from the Championship two seasons ago, and last term, the former Arsenal trainee was involved in 26 of the Magpies’ 38 league games.

His box-to-box style sets him apart from his fellow Newcastle midfielders, but Benitez clearly felt he could not trust him in the immediate aftermath of his dismissal against Cardiff.

Hayden looked out-of-sorts from the moment he stepped on to the field against the Bluebirds, and his lunge at Murphy was the act of a player whose focus was elsewhere.

Benitez understands the personal issues Hayden is dealing with, but has always stressed the need to remain professional. That continues to be his stance, and he has been pleased with Hayden’s attitude in the last few weeks.

“He was an important player for us, but because at the beginning of the season, everything was a little bit wrong, he needed to settle down,” said Benitez. “You could see against Cardiff, I’m not blaming him, but he was not focused.

“He was sent off because, for me, he was very excited and wanted to impress. It was wrong for him, but (it will be good) if he continues to train like he has the last couple of weeks. I was speaking to him, and he is fine.”

As well as reassessing Hayden’s future in January, Benitez will also have to make some important decisions regarding Newcastle’s goalkeepers.

With Martin Dubravka firmly established as Newcastle’s number one, and Karl Darlow the preferred option on the substitutes’ bench, neither Rob Elliot nor Freddie Woodman have played a single minute of senior football this season.

Both players are keen to leave in January, when they will enter the final 18 months of their current deal. Ideally, Benitez would probably prefer to loan out Woodman and keep Elliot as third-choice cover. However, if Elliot was to go a whole season without a senior outing, his value would plummet.