Steven Taylor gets called for international duty

With all the misfortune that Newcastle have had this season, there's a tinge of irony to how Steven Taylor will earn his first cap for England. Chelsea's Gary Cahill injured his knee over the weekend and will be unavailable. Roy Hodgson called on the 27-year old Taylor to fill in defensively,

Via The Independent, Taylor says:

I am so happy to have received a call-up to the full squad. It is every player's ambition to represent their country and it is the greatest honour in professional football. If I am lucky enough to be given that chance over the next seven days it will be one of the proudest moments of my playing career.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew called it a "fully deserved call-up". Pardew adds that Steven Taylor has a "great chance" of being on the England team playing in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Should Taylor appear in Friday's match, it would be his International debut with England's senior side.

Taylor and England will play San Marino in a World Cup Qualifying match on Friday. England currently sit in second place in Group H, two points behind Montenegro. The two sides will meet next week.