Steven Taylor: 'Newcastle United looking sharp'

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has admitted that the team is 'looking sharp' ahead of the new campaign.

The Magpies won their first match of pre-season on Tuesday with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Sydney FC in Dunedin, New Zealand.

With their Premier League opener against Manchester City on the horizon, Taylor is confident that Newcastle are heading in the right direction.

"We have the pace up front to cause teams problems," Taylor is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"Even at this stage of pre-season, our fitness is showing through and we looked sharp up front. There's a great work ethic in the team."

Newcastle finish their tour of New Zealand on Saturday when they face Wellington Phoenix.