Steve Bruce has insisted that he is keen to keep Isaac Hayden at Hull City for the rest of the season.
The Tigers announced via their official website last month that the young midfielder would return to parent club Arsenal after the New Year’s Day trip to Queens Park Rangers, which Hull won 2-1.
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However, Hayden played 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup victory over Championship rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and impressed Bruce, who now wants Hayden to stay at the KC Stadium.
The former Manchester United centre-back suggested that the decision now lies with the 20-year-old, who has been far from a first-team regular since joining Hull on a season-long loan in the summer.
Asked if Hayden would return to Arsenal, Bruce told Sky. “There’s a chance, but I hope not. If I’ve got anything to do with it he will stay because he’s the type that if he gets into the team he could stay there.
“I think we just have to weigh up the options for him. The first thing is he is a loan player so you have to be thankful that he’s here, that’s he’s come and wanted to play for us. So we have to be right by him.”
Hayden has only started three games for Hull en route to their third-place standing in the Championship table, making a further six appearances as a substitute and five more in cup competitions.
The youngster is even less likely to get first-team chances at the Emirates Stadium, but a return to Arsenal could set up a loan move to another club who would make more use of Hayden’s talents.
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