Newcastle squad may be too young for the Premier League, warns Magpies midfielder Isaac Hayden

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Isaac Hayden says Newcastle’s players must take the blame for their woeful start to the season - but he has warned they may be too young for the Premier League.

Rafa Benitez’s team were dumped out of the League Cup by Championship side Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, exiting at the second-round stage for the first time in 27 years.

They also lost their opening two top-flight matches without scoring a goal and face West Ham - another team on zero points - at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Isaac Hayden believes the Newcastle players must take the blame for their poor start

Benitez has been at war with owner Mike Ashley all summer over what he believes are broken promises on investment.

And the campaign could not have got off to a worse start with several pundits criticising the manager for creating a negative atmosphere around the club.

Hayden, however, says those on the pitch must shoulder the responsibility.

‘We’ve only got ourselves to blame. We can’t blame anybody else – we can’t blame the manager, we can’t blame the fans, it’s down to the players on the pitch to do the business,’ said the England Under-21 midfielder.

‘We have to keep trying to improve because if things don’t start turning and we don’t start getting results in the league, then it’s going to be an issue. 

The Magpies were knocked out of the League Cup by Nottingham Forest this week

‘We’ve spoken during the week in training, and everybody knows. Everybody is switched on, nobody is sitting there blaming everybody else. 

‘As players, you’re out there to do a job and we haven’t done it so far. The only people we have to look at is ourselves, and make sure we bring our mate along with us. ‘We have to help people along and not be too negative because the more negativity that surrounds you, the more difficult it becomes.’ 

But Hayden believes it will take time for the current squad to gel, especially given that their average age so far this season has been just 24.

‘If you look at the team, especially with the new signings, we’re all young players,’ he said. ‘It’s very difficult going into the Premier League like that. You look at the Premier League as a whole, and there are not that many young players in other teams. 

‘But you look at our team and you’ve got (Jacob) Murphy, myself, (Mikel) Merino, Jamaal (Lascelles) as captain at 23. You’ve got (Javier) Manquillo, (DeAndre) Yedlin, players that are between 21 and 23. 

‘They’re not going to suddenly come here and have all the experience and the knowhow. But we’re doing the best we can at the moment, and it’s going to take a bit of time to gel together and get used to the Premier League.’

Isaac Hayden believes the Newcastle players must take the blame for their poor start