Megson hails Taylor

17 April 2009 16:58
Bolton manager Gary Megson believes that winger Matt Taylor is the hardest working player in the Premier League. The 27-year-old returns to former club Portsmouth at the weekend looking for three points that would all but seal the Trotters' safety for another season. The former England Under 21 international scored his 10th goal of the season last weekend against Chelsea, making him the club's second highest goalscorer, a feat that his manager says is down to hard work. Megson also revealed that Taylor even cheekily asked to be captain for the clash with Pompey, but the boss had to gently turn him down. "Going back to Portsmouth is a huge thing for him because he was so popular," he said. "It will be very emotional for him. "He even came to see me to ask if he could be captain for the game but unfortunately we had to say no, Kevin Davies is the skipper." The former West Brom boss also added that he believes the wideman is playing the best football of his career. "He's been brilliant since day one," he continued. "To get 10 goals from outside left is terrific. He's also created a lot with his set pieces. "We can't ask any more of him. Even without the goals and the things which are catching the eye at the moment, he works his socks off. "Just by virtue of that we'd be happy, but the fact he's got 10 goals and plays wide left is a great testament to his quality. I doubt anybody in the Premier League works as hard as he does. "He seems happy here. He's come up from down south and taken a little bit of time to settle in but he and all his family seem happy with life up here and we're delighted with him." Megson was also quick to point out that in his current form Taylor would not look out of place in Fabio Capello's England squad. ""He wouldn't let anybody down but there's a few English lads who wouldn't let anyone down," he highlighted. "If you want an outside left who's capable of skipping past full-backs time and time again and getting crosses in then that's not Matt. "But if you want someone who drifts in off that line, who can finish with both feet and puts in a real shift up and down that side, gets goals and creates goals, you don't get much better."

Source: SKY_Sports