• League Cup

Taylor: Newcastle return after two years a fairytale

Ryan Taylor described Newcastle United's win at Manchester City in the League Cup as a "fairytale" after making his first appearance for the club in more than two years.

Ryan Taylor salutes the travelling fans © Getty Images

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Taylor, 30, last played for Newcastle in August 2012 before back-to-back cruciate knee ligament injuries kept him out of first-team action for 26 months.

After making his comeback for Newcastle in a behind-closed-doors friendly win over Carlisle before the last international break, Taylor's return was completed when he started and played all 90 minutes of Newcastle's 2-0 victory over holders and Premier League champions City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

"It was a fairytale," he told Sky Sports after the match. "It was a dream that all came true. It's been two years of hard graft to get back playing. What a performance that was from the lads."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew paid tribute to Taylor's determination to make a recovery in his post-match news conference.

"Obviously he was outstanding," he said. "Professional footballers sometimes get a bad press for the way they conduct themselves and their professionalism, but you are talking about a guy who, for two years, has been injured and conducted himself in the best possible manner.

"He came in with a smile on his face, encouraged players in those two years. He got his reward because of that professionalism. He has only had one-and-a-half reserve games, and to play like he did was absolutely outstanding and a credit to himself.

"Our staff have been very impressed with his conduct. He is a beacon of light in professional football."

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