Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden says the players must focus on their football.

Hayden insists the players must focus on winning football matches and not focus on the takeover.

He said: "I can't speak for the other lads but I think the performances when we switched to a back-four before the lockdown and obviously the performances since we've been back - I don't think anyone's been affected that I can see.

"We've had a good performance against Sheffield United, a second-game syndrome, leggy performance against Villa - but still got a half-decent result - and then we're playing arguably one of the best sides in Europe.

"The lads have been training well, we've been in good spirits. The manager and the staff have been in good spirits.

"I think it's just a case that it's out of our hands, we can't really influence anything so there's no point getting frustrated about it. We've just got to do our job which is to win football matches for Newcastle."