Taylor swapped shirts with Samuel Eto’o on his Newcastle United debut – and he’s convinced the striker used his jersey as a duster!
Taylor got Eto’o’s shirt (pictured right) after facing him as an 18-year-old, when the defender came off the bench late in a UEFA Cup tie against Real Mallorca in March 2004.
Steven Taylor: “I made my debut against Real Mallorca – and Samuel Eto’o – in the UEFA Cup.
“I gave him my top after the game – I think he uses it to dust around his house!
“I don’t even know what I was doing giving him my top, that was a schoolboy error from me!
“I remember there was a minute to go, and I just followed him wherever he went around the pitch! I think I started off at centre-half, and I went to right-back to mark him!
“I asked him for his top after the game. I got his shirt, but I don’t know why I took my top off and gave him it. His top is framed.
“He or his missus probably cleans the house, dishes or toilet with it!
“He’s played against Lucio, Cannavaro – and Taylor! There you go mate, have some of that! I think he said ‘Steven who?’. But he didn’t score, thank God.
“This European trip we are having this season is good competition for everybody.
“There are a lot of games coming up, and there’s going to be a lot of squad rotation.
“There’ll be players rested for certain games, and the lads will give the gaffer a headache.
“If we win there, it could give our younger players – the likes of Adam Campbell – a chance to play in Europe and show what he’s all about.
“The fans will be excited to see the likes of him come through.”