Alan Pardew: 'Ryan Taylor will return to training next month'

Alan Pardew has revealed that Ryan Taylor could return to training with the Newcastle United first-team squad in a month.

The 29-year-old has not played in a competitive match since August 2012 due to two serious knee injuries, but Pardew's comments suggest that he could be available for selection in October.

"Ryan is a great player for us and a great person too," the Magpies boss told reporters. "We think he is just a few weeks away from full contact training, maybe four or five weeks."

Taylor joined Newcastle from Wigan Athletic in February 2009.