KEVIN KEEGAN broke off his search for new players for Newcastle United to assure Steven Taylor he has a big future at the club. And it is just the news United fans will want to hear that Taylor – who was 22 yesterday – is very much in Keegan’s plans.
 There have not been enough hours in the day for Keegan and his right-hand men Terry McDermott and Arthur Cox as they bid to strengthen United’s paper-thin squad. But Keegan has not ignored the players he inherited from Sam Allardyce and is trying to talk to them all on a one-to-one basis. Taylor turned down a new five- year contract at St James’s Park in September because he believed it did not compare favourably with some of the club’s other young players. Although he was becoming a bit frustrated at a lack of progress on a new deal, this has not stopped the England Under-21 skipper from giving 100% every time he pulls on the black-and-white shirt. That’s exactly what Keegan did in his two-year stint as a player at St James’s Park, and anyone who does not do this can expect to be shown the door. When I asked Keegan if he had had time to look at Taylor’s contract situation, the United boss told me: “Anything like that won’t even be considered by myself for a while. “That’s no disrespect to any players who have got contract problems, as I don’t know who they are. “I’ve got other priorities but I am sure we can sort it out.” Geordie-boy Taylor is as excited as anyone by the return of Keegan and will be lifted to hear that the new boss rates him. Keegan added: “I like Steven Taylor – I think he’s got leadership qualities in the making. “There’s not a lot of experience at the back, apart from Shay Given. On the right Steven has got Stephen Carr, but on the other side he’s got players who are still learning to play in the Premier League. “Against Bolton, Taylor had a player in front of him who is still also learning the Premier League in David Rozehnal. “But I thought Taylor was tremendous on Saturday, and I’ve been very impressed with him every time I’ve seen him play for a long time now.” Taylor has made 106 appearances for United and scored five goals, and while the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and West Ham have been sniffing around, the last thing he wants is to leave St James’s Park. | 
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