Steven Taylor "excited" by upcoming fixtures

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has insisted that his side are approaching the business end of the season with excitement rather than fear.

The Magpies are just three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone following a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend.

Taylor believes that Newcastle's Europa League campaign will provide a source of optimism and a chance to provide an instant response.

He told The Sun: "If you look at the games we have coming up, Benfica twice, Fulham and then Sunderland, we are excited.

"In the next few weeks I am looking to see this all wrapped up in the Premier League and hopefully we can look forward to the Europa League.

"We we have to write the City game off and make sure there is a massive reaction. The player have to get themselves recovered well and put in a performance."

Alan Pardew's side travel to Lisbon tomorrow ahead of the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Benfica on Thursday.