Toon troubles piling up as Steven Taylor faces long lay-off

24 March 2009 01:44
Newcastle United's fight against relegation could take a turn for the worse today with fears Steven Taylor will be ruled out for a month. [LNB]The feisty Geordie defender damaged ankle ligaments in the 3-1 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday and will have a scan, but expects to miss Newcastle's game against Chelsea and, more importantly, the crunch relegation clash at Stoke City on April 11. [LNB]His defensive partner, Sebastien Bassong, is facing a similar spell out with groin and hip injuries and will undergo a scan on Tuesday. [LNB] Toon trouble: Sidelined Steven Taylor is set to miss a pivitol relegation run-in for Newcastle[LNB]Taylor's ankle is heavily bruised and swollen and he left St James'Park on crutches with his leg in an air-cast on Saturday. He andBassong have been prominent figures in Newcastle's desperate rearguardaction, but have ultimately failed to prevent their side slipping intoserious trouble. [LNB] Nolan plays it cool despite Newcastle heading for the relegation trap-door HATCHET MAN: It's difficult to work who will go down first: Newcastle United or cumbersome thug Taylor NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB Michael Owen, controversially left out againstArsenal, may be on the bench again against Chelsea, while fierce rivalsSunderland are ready to move for £60,000-a-week striker Alan Smith, whocould be allowed to leave for free in the summer as part of much-neededcost cutting. [LNB]Bizarrely, new recruit Kevin Nolan said yesterday: 'There are no sirens going off yet.' [LNB]Butthe glut of injuries, plus frustration among the club's big-name stars,suggest his confidence is misplaced. Only Middlesbrough and WestBromwich Albion are below them in the Barclays Premier League tablewith eight matches of a difficult run-in to play. [LNB]Newcastle are two points from safety and have not won in their last five matches under caretaker manager Chris Hughton. [LNB]Playing it safe: Kevin Nolan is refusing to hit the panic button despite Newcastle sitting in the drop zone[LNB]However,Nolan, signed from Bolton in January, said: 'I'd far rather be in thebottom three now than at the end of the season. I think we've gotenough in the locker and enough in the changing room to get us out ofthis. [LNB]'It's down to us now to start being ruthless - ruthlesswith each other and against teams. I'm 100 per cent positive we'llstill be in the Premier League come the end of the season.' [LNB]Thatbelief will be sorely tested if Taylor and Bassong are ruled out forany considerable time. All three goals against Arsenal were concededafter Bassong had departed, while Taylor was off the pitch for thesecond and third. [LNB]Meanwhile, fellow defender Fabricio Colocciniendured torrid abuse from his own supporters. Hughton will be desperateto have them back for the trip to Stoke for what represents asix-pointer. [LNB]Owen and Smith, meanwhile, will remain bemused at their lack of opportunities. [LNB]Newcastleare keen to lose Smith's wages after just three appearances thisseason. He was left out of the line-up against Arsenal and is now readyto quit.[LNB] Sour taste: After a tumultuous spell on Tyneside Alan Smith is set to quit Newcastle[LNB] [LNB]Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is desperate to landthe former Leeds firebrand while Blackburn and Everton may also showinterest if Smith takes a substantial cut in terms. [LNB]All threesee Smith's appetite for the fight as an attribute that could improvetheir sides - Newcastle would do well to use that themselves.[LNB] Steven Taylor's place in the England Under 21 squad for the matches against Norway and France has been taken by Stoke's Ryan Shawcross.[LNB] Nolan plays it cool despite Newcastle heading for the relegation trap-door HATCHET MAN: It's difficult to work who will go down first: Newcastle United or cumbersome thug Taylor NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB [LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail