I departed Newcastle United in 2016 after making 268 appearances. I intend to return to St. James’ Park next month.

Steven Taylor, a former defender for Newcastle United, intends to return to St James’ Park for the holiday season next month.Taylor is presently the manager of Al Qabila in Dubai, having previously enjoyed success at Gulf United in the United Arab Emirates.

The 38-year-old was present at the two training sessions at the Al Awwal Park in Riyadh on Saturday and Sunday during Newcastle’s recent excursion to Saudi Arabia for warm-weather training.

Before Newcastle returned to England on Monday, the first session was exposed to the public, while the second was conducted behind closed doors. And Taylor perceived it as a significant learning experience for him as a coach to observe Eddie Howe and his assistants interact with the first-team.

Taylor stated on the club website, “I had a match on Friday night and decided to fly over to observe the boys train on Saturday and Sunday.” It is an immense source of knowledge for me to acquire from these individuals. After graduating from Newcastle’s academy, Taylor appeared in 268

games for the club. In 2016, he concluded his 21-year affiliation with Newcastle by departing to join the Portland Timbers in the Major League Soccer (MLS). He played for Ipswich Town, Peterborough United, Wellington Phoenix, and Odisha before retiring from the game in 2021.

Taylor subsequently relocated to the Middle East to assume the role of manager at Gulf United. He guided the club to consecutive promotions before departing in 2023 to become the manager of Al Qabila.

Taylor further stated, “Dubai is a distinct environment.” “The limited budget and diverse cultures present challenges, but they also provide opportunities for personal growth.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt as a coach is to observe Eddie and his team in action and observe the quality of their work.” The game of football has evolved, and it is imperative to change with the times.Taylor is also preparing to return to St James’ Park and Newcastle during the holiday season.

Following Newcastle’s relegation in 2016, the defender departed the club. However, eight years later, the club has achieved consecutive top-seven finishes in the Premier League, qualified for the Champions League, and reached the Carabao Cup final.

“I have been awestruck by the improvement in the quality of the lads each year,” he continued. “I believe that the fans are certainly entertained by the thrilling football that is played at St.

James’ Park, and I am optimistic that there will be more enjoyable moments in the future.” “I will arrange my schedule to coincide with the Christmas season; I would absolutely love to return to St. James’ Park and celebrate Christmas.”