Town boss Mick McCarthy says he has been impressed with new addition Steven Taylor since he joined up with the Blues on Monday, particularly with his vocal approach to the game and his organisational qualities. Former Newcastle man Taylor, 31, has agreed a contract to the end of the season.

“He went over to Portland Timbers and he’s been fit for 12 months and played his games for 12 months,” McCarthy said.

“I tried to sign him at Wolves, but that was probably more in his pomp when he was playing well in the first team [at Newcastle].

“He’s come to us, he’s been available after coming back [from the US]. I think he’s hungry to get back in and play.

“He’s had two days in training with us, he’s a really good voice on the pitch, an organiser, pulls people around him, knows how to do it, defends properly, likes to defend.

“He got clattered a couple of times yesterday, once with the ball and one a tackle and he got up and he wants to protect that goal.

“There’s no doubting his ability, it was really about seeing him train. And he’s trained really well. I think he’ll be a really good voice in the dressing room.

“The one question I asked him was ‘What happens if you don’t play? What happens if I never pick you?’. And he said ‘That’s football, I’ll be here ready to go, supporting the rest of the lads’.

“I don’t want that said to me and then that’s not the case, I need that and I need that positive influence and need him to train and I think that’s the case. I was impressed with him.

“That is always the problem, people come in, who’s to know, we might go and win on Saturday and win the next Saturday and he’ll never get a game, and he’s coming to play. But I was impressed with him, I was impressed with his personality, actually.”

He added: “He’s come in, there’s no agent. He’s brought himself down. He said to [physio] Matt Byard ‘I’ve got to go and see the gaffer, I might get a custard pie today, I’ve no idea’.

“He came down and he trained and there was none of that ‘What if I get injured?’. He’s come and trained, he’s committed to it and he did really well.

“I think in the two sessions the lads were impressed with him as well, the voice on the pitch, the organisation and we don’t have a lot of that.”

Saturday's game will come too soon for Taylor with international clearance required by midday Friday as his last club was in the US. The former Newcastle man is also unlikely to be available for Tuesday's home game with Derby.

Photo: Action Images

itfchorry added 16:53 - Jan 26 McCarthy OUT
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ScottCandage added 16:56 - Jan 26 Bit of an indictment by McCarthy saying that we don't have a lot of players who are a voice on the pitch, trying to organize the defense. Not even the Captain? Says a lot there.
-6

hoppy added 16:59 - Jan 26 Where does it say "Not even the Captain"?
2

cat added 17:06 - Jan 26 I hope MM has the intention to play him, he certainly fits the "proper bloke" mould, the only danger is if he can pass the ball he will probably get overlooked!!!!! Dino out.
-1

Mark added 17:12 - Jan 26 “I think in the two sessions the lads were impressed with him as well, the voice on the pitch, the organisation and we don't have a lot of that.” I agree with that, but why is it the case? Chambers was Forest captain and now wears the armband for Ipswich, Berra was Hearts captain, and Skuse Bristol City captain. Why are they not organising the team? As for Taylor, I think he could be a really good signing and an excellent free signing. Welcome Stephen, and best of luck.

11

muccletonjoe added 17:19 - Jan 26 We dont have ANY of that on the pitch. Reminds me a bit of when we got mowbray. Hope he has same effect.
4

ArnieM added 17:34 - Jan 26 it's all about presence in the team We haven't had that for a long, long while. Now we appear to have two players. Taylor at the back, "Dave" in the midfield...get in a big target man , or (Morris?) shows himself and begger me , correct me if I'm wrong, but a "spine" appears to be developing through the team !! Win Sat it is then.
5

happybeingblue added 17:56 - Jan 26 apparently it was geordie shore or us according to goughy on talksport :) , btw goughy said he should have chosen geordie shore
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:08 - Jan 26 I think this could be a really good signing if he stays fit. He knows how to defend and god knows we need someine with his attitude. On the pitch I've never seen him anything other than commited
3

runningout added 21:06 - Jan 26 Liability at end of time with Newcastle. Good communicator maybe. Good footballer???
1

heathen66 added 23:06 - Jan 26 So that is Digby dropped then !!! Shame relly as he was the best of the three defenders against Lincoln and not at fault Vs Huddersfield. Seniority rules unfortunately
-1

floridablue added 01:03 - Jan 27 Good luck Taylor and I think you could be just what the team needs to motivate/organize the guys around you. Just stay well away from this forums if we loose!
0

itfchorry added 01:07 - Jan 27 McCarthy OUT
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