Beardsley admires resilient Taylor

21 October 2014 15:46

Former Newcastle and England star Peter Beardsley has admitted he could not have coped with the injury nightmare from which Ryan Taylor is only just emerging.

The 30-year-old Magpies utility man is nearing a return to first-team action after more than two years on the sidelines following two cruciate ligament injuries.

Taylor scored a penalty in Monday's 3-1 Barclays Premier Under-21 League victory over Brighton, his first full game since August 2012.

Football development manager Beardsley told the club's official website, www.nufc.co.uk: "What he's gone through, I couldn't have coped with - I genuinely couldn't.

"I'm not just saying that. He's a proper man.

"The club has been great, the doc's been great, Derek (Wright, physio) has been great. He's had lots of people there encouraging him, but he's still got to do the work.

"As much as we try to help him, he's the one who's done the work and deserves all the credit."

Taylor suffered the initial injury in a 1-0 Europa League qualifying victory over Greek side Atromitos at St James' Park on August 30, 2012, and was on the verge of a comeback in the April of the following year when disaster struck once again as he suffered a recurrence on the training ground.

He will now hope to force his way into manager Alan Pardew's plans once again with Newcastle having endured a testing start to a season which yielded its first Premier League victory at the weekend.

Beardsley said: "What he's done and what he's gone through, the hard work, the hours that nobody sees - it's incredible what he's come through and hopefully he's not far away from playing in the first team."

Pardew, however, may have to wait a little longer for £6million summer signing Siem de Jong after he revealed he could be out of action for another two months.

The 25-year-old Holland international suffered a serious thigh injury just three games into his Magpies career and while he is making progress, he will not figure any time soon.

De Jong said in a message posted on his Facebook page: "On my way back to Newcastle. Just saw the surgeon in London and all looks good.

"I can slowly start building up strength again and start walking without crutches. Still a couple of months to go but I'm going to work hard and I'm sure I will get back stronger!"

Source: PA