Alan Pardew welcomes back "inspirational" Ryan Taylor

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has revealed that he is delighted to include the "inspirational" Ryan Taylor in his squad for Sunday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

Back-to-back knee ligament injuries had sidelined the 30-year-old for 26 months, but the right-back is nearing a return to action and could be involved at White Hart Lane.

"Ryan should return this week, and I think that is an inspirational story to everybody here and in football," Pardew is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"He has had terrible, terrible luck with injuries and it is so pleasing to put his name on the team-sheet this week to travel. It is good news for us, because he is a very well-liked guy."

The former Wigan Athletic man, who joined the Magpies in 2009, suffered the initial injury in a Europa League tie with Atromitos in August 2012.