Out on loan at Hull City alongside Chuba Akpom, it’s been another tough season for Isaac Hayden so far.

Previous years have been blighted by injury but, finally fit, the versatile 20-year-old headed to Humberside in search of regular football at a high level. The Tigers are third in the Championship, but Steve Bruce confirmed on Thursday that the Hayden will return to Arsenal in the New Year.

Hull City's English defender Isaac Hayden controls the ball during the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Manchester City and Hull City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England on December 1, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS
Isaac Hayden will return to Arsenal after a mutual agreement to end his loan spell with Hull City. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Capable pf playing in midfield or in defence, Arsenal may even need him for cover in the New Year, especially if Mathieu Debuchy leaves and Calum Chambers is needed at right-back.

Hayden has played 13 times for Hull this season, but four of his seven starts came in the League Cup. Since mid-September he has only played three times in the Championship, managing a total of 12 minutes on the pitch.

“Isaac wants to play and I haven’t been able to play him enough,” Bruce said to Hull Daily Mail“I’m disappointed and sad that we’re losing him because I do believe he could have played a big part in the second half of the season but he wants to play now.

“I can’t give him that. He goes back with our best wishes. It hasn’t really worked out for him because of other players in form.

“When we signed Isaac I was expecting to be without Livermore and he’s similar in the way he plays. Jake coming back into the fold has limited his opportunities.”

It’s a shame it hasn’t worked out, but it seems a return to north London is the best thing for the player. He will be eligible for Hull’s game against QPR on Friday, but will be back at Arsenal after that match. Should he stay at the club, he is likely to spend the rest of the season with the u21s, but maybe another loan spell with more football would be more beneficial.