'I'll be back to help us lift title' - Taylor
STEVEN Taylor has vowed to return before the end of the season – and help Newcastle United claim the Championship trophy.
The club's defensive lynchpin has been out since January with medial ligament damage to his knee.
And Taylor - last night named Sport Newcastle's Sports Personality of the Year - feared the injury would end his season.
But the 24-year-old centre-half, while not putting a date on his comeback, is confident he will be back in action before the end of promotion-chasing United's campaign.
Taylor – who suffered the injury when West Bromwich Albion's Roman Bednar caught him as he attempted to make a clearance in January's clash between the two sides at St James's Park – has been working overtime on his rehabilitation.
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"It wasn't a foul from Bednar – there's no hard feelings whatsoever," Taylor told the Gazette.
"He was just trying to block the ball, and he's just caught me on my ankle and jarred my knee.
"I thought I'd be all right with a couple of days rest, but it swelled up the following day, and I knew I had a problem. It was pretty bad.
"But I've got a strength coach I work with every day, Michael Pellegrino, who's given me that belief I'll be back this season.
"I actually wrote my season off when I did my injury, but he's given me the confidence that I can get back before the end of the season. That's the biggest plus for me.
"All I want to do is lift that cup, and get that medal round my neck. I don't want to come second. I've always said I want to win something with Newcastle, and this is the best way to do it."
Chris Hughton's side have pushed on in their league campaign since Taylor suffered his injury.
Newcastle go into Saturday's Tees-Tyne derby against Middlesbrough with a eight-point advantage at the top of the division over second-placed Nottingham Forest.
"The main thing now is to get a Championship winners medal," added Taylor.
"We've had some injuries, but the players have done so well. We're getting the results we need, and if we can stay at the top of the league, I'll be happy.
"I'm always around the dressing room, and texting the players before away games, wishing them all the best.
"It means so much to me and Newcastle to get back up to the Premiership. We can't afford to stay here for another year, and we're getting the wins now, and long may it continue.
"We've just got to make sure we grind out results away from home.
"Middlesbrough's a tough game, but we've taken a lot of belief and confidence from the last game."
Meanwhile, Taylor also told of his pride at being honoured by Sport Newcastle at their annual dinner at the Civic Centre last night.
Alan Shearer, also at the awards, was a previous winner of the Sports Personality trophy.
"This is a massive one when you look at some of the names on there – Jonny Wilkinson, Alan Shearer and Steve Harmison, and to be named alongside them is absolutely fantastic," said Taylor.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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