• Premier League

Taylor relief for Toon, Best blow

ESPN staff
February 6, 2012
Leon Best was injured in after a challenge by Stephen Warnock © PA Photos
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Newcastle striker Leon Best faces six weeks out with a knee injury, but manager Alan Pardew has been boosted by the news that Ryan Taylor's injury was not as bad as he originally feared.

Taylor sparked concerns that he had broken his leg after he was stretchered off with his leg in a splint in Newcastle's 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Pardew revealed the midfielder had not suffered a fracture, but had a "big swelling on the leg" after suffering soft tissue damage in a collision with Stephen Warnock.

"The good news for Ryan Taylor is that there is no break or fracture, so we think he's going to be OK," Pardew said.

However, it was not such good news for Best, who will have a scan on Tuesday to discover the extent of his knee injury, with Pardew braced for a six-week lay-off.

"Leon has got a medial ligament injury, which is usually a six-week lay-off," Pardew added.

However, Pardew's strike options have been boosted by the return of Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse from the African Nations Cup, with both strikers on target on Sunday.

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