Alan Pardew backs Steven Taylor for England

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has urged England coach Roy Hodgson to consider calling up Steven Taylor following his performance against Stoke City.

The 27-year-old impressed in the 2-1 win over Stoke on Sunday afternoon, dealing with the physical battle particularly well.

Pardew believes that Taylor could be the answer to the international side's problems in central defence, describing his performance as "England standard".

Pardew said: "He was immense. Steven Taylor gave a performance of England standard.

"They really do need to have a look at him at centre-half because I think it's a problem position for England and his performance against Crouch and everything else that they threw at us - because we had no height in the team.

"Steven Taylor had to do everything on that side of it and he was brilliant."

Taylor is yet to be capped by the senior side, although he did make 29 appearances for the Under-21s.