Ryan Taylor is backing Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew to guide the team through their current injury crisis.
Defender hoping injury crisis will not derail campaign
Ryan Taylor is backing Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew to guide the team through their current injury crisis.
The Magpies boss has been able to name an unchanged back four all season so far, but will be forced to ring the changes against Norwich this weekend.
Steven Taylor is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing Achilles surgery and central defensive partner Fabricio Coloccini has been ruled out with a thigh strain received against Chelsea.
Many questioned Pardew's inventive choice of starting the right-footed Ryan Taylor at left-back when Jose Enrique departed for Liverpool in August.
But Taylor has grown into the role and is now playing some of the best football of his career - much to his own surprise.
And without adequate cover in the middle Pardew again may have to work a little bit of managerial magic on his defence.
"I didn't expect (to be playing at left-back), no, if I am truthfully honest, but I didn't see why I couldn't stay in the team if I played well," he said.
"So far, the gaffer has kept faith in me and we are sitting sixth in the league and everyone is very happy at the minute.
"But it's been a fantastic season for me so far and hopefully, that can continue.
"But I am just going to take one game as it comes and not look too far ahead of myself because I know there are players wanting to get into the position I am in and get into the team.
"I can't get too carried away, I can only go to the next game and at the moment, I am very happy."
