• Premier League

Hughton confident of keeping Taylor

ESPN staff
November 26, 2010
Steven Taylor has not played for Newcastle United in the Premier League this season © Getty Images
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Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is confident that defender Steven Taylor will be at the club next season, despite the impasse over the player's contract.

The 24-year-old's current deal expires in 2011, meaning that the Geordies will be in danger of losing him for free next summer if he does not pen new terms.

Taylor is yet to make an appearance in the Magpies' first-team this season, having been sidelined with a combination of ankle and shoulder injuries. But, even if he had been fit, there is no guarantee he would have made the first XI given the impressive form of Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini.

Nonetheless, Hughton insists he is desperate to keep the centre back at St James' Park for the foreseeable future.

"At the moment, we have four natural centre-halves and two of them are out suspended," Hughton said. "We are still very confident and very much want Steven to stay at this football club, very much so."

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