The midfielder - currently recovering from a knee injury - hit the milestone against Manchester United in February and has now received a presentation box containing a special medallion and engraved plaque to mark it.

The Premier League has partnered with Coca-Cola to recognise players who reach 100 appearances, as well as every century mark after that.

And Hayden told nufc.co.uk: "I think it's a big achievement for anybody to play 100 games in arguably the best league in the world - and to do it at 25 years of age.

"It's one of those things where you don't really think about it too much now because you're still in the thick of it and you're still wanting to play as many games as possible and play at the highest level continuously but it's definitely something that, at the end of your career, you will look back on with a great sense of achievement."

Hayden started out with Southend United's academy before moving to Arsenal, where he made two cup appearances without making his league debut.

Joining Newcastle in the summer of 2016, he helped the Magpies win the Championship title in his first season before his Premier League bow arrived against Tottenham in August 2017. He has since added four more top-flight appearances and has played 157 times for United in all competitions, scoring six goals.

"I had quite bad injury when I was 19, so it kind of lost me a year of football, and then at 20 I got loaned (to Hull City in) the Championship, so I missed out on a year there, and then obviously came to Newcastle when we were in the Championship for a season," he added.

"So I had two or three years where I didn't really have the opportunity to play at the highest level. I feel like I've earned the opportunity, and then three, four years down the line I've managed to achieve (the milestone).

"Hopefully now I can kick on and get as many more Premier League games as I can - and hopefully play the rest of my career in the Premier League."

Hayden could already have added several more appearances but for the season-ending injury he suffered at Brighton in March. He is currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme with the club's medical team and said: "It's going really well.

"I've started running outside again this week so it's going really, really well and I'm pleased with it."