Steven Taylor: We're only looking forward

Mar 10 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“I know I speak on behalf of the rest of the lads when I say it is an honour to play for Newcastle United. When I go on the pitch now, I always believe I’m going to win the game.

“Not many teams can do that.”

Some of those demands have spilled into minor on-field altercations but Taylor interprets that as a sign Newcastle are more – not less – united.

“There’s been times when you see little arguments on the pitch but that’s because the players are demanding much more of each other – more than they did last year,” he said.

“If you look at Man United you’ll see their players at each other. But it’s encouragement more than anything. When someone’s made a bad mistake we help each other. There’s never, ever any fall-outs.

“In the changing room you can see the foreign lads enjoying the banter with the English lads. The lads are much happier on the training pitch.

“We’re top of the Championship, the gaffer’s happy, the players are happy – but we demand more.”

Taylor’s mood was lifted by Sport Newcastle’s award – a surprise on the night – and his quicker-than-expected recovery.

“It’s massive for me to win this award,” he commented.

“Just looking at the names on the trophy – Alan Shearer, Jonny Wilkinson, Jonathan Edwards – to be in that category is a very proud thing.

“The icing on the cake would be a Championship winner’s medal and to get back into the Premier League. That would be the perfect season.

“I wrote myself off for the rest of the season when I did my injury. But I’ve had strength coaching from Michael Pellegrino every afternoon and it’s given me the confidence to come back.

“I’ll hopefully be playing by the back end of the season. I feel really good at the moment, the work’s definitely paying off.”