Keeper open minded on Millwall stay
10:42am Monday 16th April 2012 in Latest Sport By Paul Green
Maik Taylor. PICTURE BY ALAN STANFORD.
MAIK Taylor admits he would consider staying at Millwall if the opportunity arose.
The veteran keeper has been an impressive addition to the Lions’ squad since his arrival on loan from Leeds last month.
Taylor has kept David Forde out of the team for seven games, during which time Millwall have picked up 13 points to finally end any lingering fears of relegation.
Safety was mathematically guaranteed with Saturday’s 2-1 home victory over Leicester City and Taylor admitted afterwards he would have to seriously consider whether to stay at the club if Kenny Jackett asked him to during the close season.
“If that is an option for me then obviously it is something to speak about with the manager and see what options are there really,” he said.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, if it goes beyond the season then fantastic.
“There was an opportunity here at Millwall with one of their keepers injured.
“I thought I was coming in to try and put some pressure on the other keeper.
“The manager has given me an opportunity and I think things have gone well, so hopefully that will continue.
“I’ve been very impressed from the first day I came in.
“It is a great and really hard working, honest bunch of lads.
“They’ve got a lot of quality in the side as well and things have just sort of fallen in place at the right time at the business end of the season and thankfully we are safe now.”
Taylor added: “There is a good attitude every day in training but that comes from the manager really and the coaching staff.
“To be fair the lads are all professional and go about their business every day, they work extremely hard and at the minute we are getting the rewards.
“Thankfully we are safe. It could have been a real nail-biter on Tuesday night at Coventry but now we are safe we can enjoy the last three games.
“Obviously we still want to finish the season as high as we possibly can and get as many points as we can, but it takes some pressure off us now.”
Harry Kane’s first half opener set the Lions on their way to victory against the Foxes before the lead was doubled from the penalty spot 10 minutes after the break by Andy Keogh.
Substitute Danny Drinkwater pulled one back for Leicester on 82 minutes to set up a tense finale but it came too late to deny Millwall a third straight win.
Taylor said: “It would have been nice to have kept another clean sheet.
“It was a bit nerve-racking the last five minutes, they put us under a lot of pressure but the boys were once again magnificent.
“They headed everything and through just sheer hard work they just earned the luck to hold on and see it through to the end.
“It was a big relief to hear the final whistle. Leicester still had aspirations of getting in the play-offs so it was a big win for us.
“Nine points in a week – you can’t really ask for much more.”
Despite being aged 40, Taylor was quick to point out he has no intention of hanging up his gloves just yet.
He explained: “I still feel good and that I can contribute on the playing front.
“I’m trying to prolong my playing career as long as I can. I’m enjoying it at the moment but am not getting carried away.
“Touch wood I will stay injury free and I can provide serious competition to anyone but I’m enjoying playing at the moment.
“I’m certainly not the oldest goalkeeper, I’m a long way from the oldest!
“It just shows the professionalism of all the keepers now, they are going on and on and the key is staying free of injuries.
“I’ve not come across a keeper that is afraid of the hard work.
“Certainly I’m enjoying going into work every day training from Monday to Friday, I think that is the most important thing. The fact I’m in the team on a Saturday is just a bonus really.”
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