Kaine Kesler-Hayden Explained

Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Fullname:Kaine Kesler-Hayden[1]
Birth Date:23 October 2002
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Height:1.75m[2]
Position:Full-back, right wing-back
Currentclub:Preston North End
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Clubnumber:29
Youthyears1:–2021
Youthclubs1:Aston Villa
Years1:2021–
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Swindon Town (loan)
Caps2:18
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:1
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Huddersfield Town (loan)
Caps4:14
Goals4:1
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Preston North End (loan)
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:England U20
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:18:57, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

Kaine Kesler-Hayden (born 23 October 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back or right wing-back for club Preston North End, on loan from club Aston Villa.[3] [4]

A product of the Aston Villa Academy, he captained their under-18 side to victory in the FA Youth Cup in 2021. Kesler has represented England at under-20 level.

Club career

Aston Villa

Early career

Having progressed through the club's academy system, Kesler-Hayden was named in the Aston Villa starting line-up for his senior debut on 8 January 2021 in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool, after "a large number of first-team players and staff" tested positive for COVID-19, rendering Villa's first-team squad unavailable for the match.[5] [6] Villa lost 4–1 but were praised for their performance.[7]

On 24 May 2021, Kesler-Hayden captained the Aston Villa U18 side which won the FA Youth Cup, beating Liverpool U18 2–1 in the final.[8] Kesler-Hayden was later one of several academy players given five-year professional contracts by the club in July 2021.[9]

Swindon Town loan

On 2 August 2021, Kesler-Hayden signed for Swindon Town on a season-long loan,[10] and made his professional league debut five days later, in a 3–1 away victory over Scunthorpe United, in which he won a penalty that led to Swindon's equaliser.[11] He received his first red card as a professional in his second appearance for Swindon, picking up a second yellow card in a 2–1 defeat to Carlisle United.[12]

On 4 December 2021, Kesler-Hayden scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 FA Cup victory over Walsall.[13] Kesler-Hayden featured in Swindon's third round FA Cup tie against Manchester City on 7 January 2022. Swindon were beaten 4–1, yet Kesler Hayden received widespread praise for his strong performance against the Premier League side.[14] Two days later, on 9 January, Kesler-Hayden was recalled from his loan by Aston Villa.[15] For his contribution on loan, Kesler-Hayden was later named Swindon Town's Young Player of the Season at the club's end of season awards ceremony.[16]

Milton Keynes Dons loan

On 31 January 2022, Kesler-Hayden joined League One promotion contenders Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[17] He made his League One debut on 8 February 2022, in a 1–1 draw against Fleetwood Town.[18] On 22 February 2022, Kesler-Hayden scored his first goal for MK Dons, also his first professional league goal, in a 2–0 away win over Charlton Athletic.[19] He went on to make 17 appearances for the Dons, helping them to a third-placed play-off finish.[20]

Huddersfield Town loan

On 12 August 2022, Kesler-Hayden joined Championship club Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan.[21] On 15 January 2023, Aston Villa recalled Kesler-Hayden from his loan. He had made 15 appearances with one goal and one assist during his loan.[22] Huddersfield Head of Football Operations Leigh Bromby explained that the decision was made mutually between both teams with the player's best interests in mind, after Huddersfield made the signing of Matthew Lowton and Kesler-Hayden's place in the first-team was no longer guaranteed - the decision also allowing Huddersfield to use one of their loan allocations to strengthen another part of the team.[23]

Plymouth Argyle loan

On 29 June 2023, Kesler-Hayden signed for EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan deal.[24] In January 2024, Aston Villa exercised a recall option in his loan contract, returning to his parent side having made twenty-seven appearances.[25]

Premier League debut

On 30 March 2024, Kesler-Hayden made his Premier League debut, as a late substitute in a 2–0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[26] On 3 July 2024, Kesler-Hayden signed a contract extension with Villa.[27]

Preston North End loan

On 7 August 2024, Kesler-Hayden joined Championship club Preston North End on a season-long loan.[28]

International career

Kesler-Hayden was called up to a training camp for the England U19 national team in November 2020.[29] On 6 September 2021, he made his debut for the England U20s during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park.[30]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa U212020–211010
Aston Villa2020–21Premier League00100010
2021–2200000000
2022–2300000000
2023–243000001040
2024–250000000000
Total3010001050
Swindon Town (loan)2021–22League Two180310000211
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)2021–22League One15120171
Huddersfield Town (loan)2022–23Championship1411000151
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2023–24Championship2401020270
Preston North End (loan)2024–25Championship1000000000
Career total752612040863

Honours

Aston Villa U18

2020–21

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed . 8 January 2021 . www.premierleague.com . Premier League.
  2. Web site: Kaine Kesler. 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 3 November 2021.
  3. Web site: Kaine Kesler-Hayden . 3 August 2021 . www.avfc.co.uk . Aston Villa F.C..
  4. Web site: Rushton . James . 16 July 2020 . Who is Kaine Kesler? The latest Villa kid called up to train with the first team . 8 January 2021 . BirminghamLive.
  5. Web site: Aston Villa name young and inexperienced side for their FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool . 8 January 2021 . www.avfc.co.uk . Aston Villa F.C.. 8 January 2021.
  6. Web site: McNulty . Phil . Phil McNulty . 7 January 2021 . Villa set to field youngsters v Liverpool . 8 January 2021 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Doyle . Paul . 8 January 2021 . Sadio Mané double sees Liverpool past bold and youthful Aston Villa . 8 January 2021 . The Guardian . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Preece. Ashley. 2021-05-24. Aston Villa vs Liverpool FA Youth Cup final LIVE updates. 2021-05-24. BirminghamLive. en.
  9. Web site: 6 July 2021. Seven Villa U23s pen new deals. 2021-07-06. Aston Villa Football Club.
  10. Web site: 2 August 2021. Kesler Hayden joins Swindon Town on loan. 2021-08-02. Aston Villa Football Club.
  11. Web site: 2021-08-07. Swindon fans laud Aston Villa loanee Kaine Kesler Hayden after debut. 2021-08-08. The Boot Room. en-US.
  12. News: Leighfield. Jonny. 14 August 2021. Swindon Town lose 2-1 to Carlisle United in League Two. This Is Wiltshire. 15 August 2021.
  13. News: Leighfield. Jonny. 4 December 2021. Swindon Town beat Walsall 2–1 in FA Cup second round. This Is Wiltshire. 4 December 2021.
  14. News: Covid-hit Man City too strong for Swindon. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2022-01-07.
  15. Web site: 9 January 2022. Kesler Hayden returns to Villa. 2022-01-09. Aston Villa Football Club.
  16. Web site: Harry McKirdy cleans up in End of Season Awards . . 5 May 2022 . 9 May 2022 .
  17. Web site: Kaine Kesler: MK Dons sign Aston Villa full-back on loan . . 31 January 2022 . 31 January 2022 .
  18. Web site: Fleetwood Town 1-1 MK Dons: A point apiece at Highbury Stadium. 2022-02-08. www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. en.
  19. Web site: Charlton Athletic 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons . . 22 February 2022 . 22 February 2022 .
  20. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers (agg 1-2) . . 8 May 2022 . 9 May 2022 .
  21. Web site: 12 August 2022 . Kaine Kesler Hayden joins Terriers on loan . 2022-08-12 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  22. Web site: 15 January 2023 . Kaine Kesler Hayden returns to Villa . 2023-01-15 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  23. Web site: Hobkinson . Matthew . 2023-01-15 . Leigh Bromby explains Kaine Kesler-Hayden's Huddersfield Town departure . 2023-01-16 . YorkshireLive . en.
  24. Web site: 29 June 2023 . Argyle Sign Kaine Kesler-Hayden on Loan . 2023-06-29 . Plymouth Argyle . en.
  25. Web site: Kesler-Hayden returns to Villa. www.pafc.co.uk. 14 January 2024. 17 January 2024.
  26. News: Villa beat Wolves to maintain top-four gap over Spurs . 2024-03-30 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  27. Web site: 2024-07-03 . Kesler-Hayden signs contract extension . 2024-07-03 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  28. Web site: 7 August 2024 . Kaine Kesler-Hayden Joins On Loan . 2024-08-07 . www.pnefc.net.
  29. Web site: 6 November 2020 . Three England men's development squads will meet for training camps in November . 8 January 2021 . www.thefa.com . The Football Association . en.
  30. Web site: Six at SGP for MU20s. 2021-09-06. EnglandFootball.com. en.