Ryan Taylor’s Euro vision at United
SCHOOL'S OUT ... Danny Guthrie and Ryan Taylor at a free coaching session at Newburn, Newcastle.
RYAN Taylor is desperate to rejoin Newcastle United’s bid for European football.
Taylor missed the weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur with a leg injury.
But the 27-year-old had another scan this morning, and he’s hopeful he’ll be back in training on Monday ahead of the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers to St James’s Park on February 25.
Despite the defeat at White Hart Lane, Newcastle remain in the top six of the Premier League.
And Taylor – who was at Newburn Leisure Centre yesterday for the launch of a series of football fun days – says the aim for United between now and the end of the season is to stay there and qualify for the Europa League. “Our aim now is to stay in that top six,” Taylor told the Gazette.
“We’ll be living a dream if we can get in those Champions League spots, but I think now, with the position we’ve put ourselves in, Europe’s the target and anything else is a bonus.
“We’re that close to the Champions League spots, but there’s 13 games left and we’re going to be playing teams who are fighting for their lives, and others who are fighting for the title, so no game from now until the end of the season’s going to be easy.”
Taylor looked to have suffered a serious injury when he was stretchered off after being caught by a crude Stephen Warnock challenge in the win over Aston Villa earlier this month.
However, an X-ray showed Taylor – who broke the same leg while at former club Wigan Athletic – had suffered no serious damage. “I’m just grateful it wasn’t a bad one, and I’ll hopefully be fit to face Wolves,” added Taylor.
“It was great news for me because I’ve had problems with that leg before. He caught me right on the exact same spot.
“It sort of ballooned up a little bit, but I’m made up that it’s nothing too serious and I can be back for the next game.
“It’s the leg I broke when I was at Wigan, and I’ve had a few ops on it in the past. It just shows it comes back stronger. I’m thankful it was nothing too serious.”
However, the injury still kept Taylor out of the visit to Tottenham, and the Liverpudlian could only watch in frustration back home on Tyneside as United’s performance unravelled.
Taylor said: “It’s not nice. You want to turn off, but you feel like you can’t.
“The boys are like family and you always want them to do well. It’s not nice when it’s 5-0 and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“It’s the worst part of football when you’re injured and not able to do anything. I’m sure the lads will want to bounce back against Wolves, especially in front of the home fans.”
Struggling Wolves, beaten 2-1 at Molineux by Newcastle early in the season, could have a new manager in place by the time they visit St James’s Park.
Mick McCarthy was dismissed in the wake of last weekend’s 5-0 defeat to derby rivals West Bromwich Albion, and Taylor is wary of them, despite their lowly league position.
“I know they’re having a bad season now, but we played them early on, and to go there and beat them was a big result for us because they’d started well and they’ve got some good players,” said Taylor.
“We’re going to expect another tough game, especially with a new manager as well.
“It’s going to be like QPR all over again – they’re going to want to impress and do well, because they’re in a dogfight down there.”
Meanwhile, Taylor and team-mate Danny Guthrie met 50 children who turned up for free coaching at Newburn Leisure Centre yesterday.
The Newcastle United Foundation has joined forces with Newcastle City Council to put on the school holiday sessions, and yesterday’s event was organised in partnership with Throckley Magpies FC.
“Growing up, this was me back in the day,” reflected Taylor. “I did this sort of thing many years ago ,and for people like me and Danny who play for the club in the city, it’s nice to see the smile on their faces.
“These kids are massive Newcastle supporters, and it’s the fans that make the club.
“We don’t get 52,000 people going to the games just because they want to. They love football, they love the club and they’re the next generation.”
Twitter: @milesstarforth
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