Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has insisted that defender Steven Taylor still has an important role to play at St James' Park.

Taylor has not featured for the Magpies since the opening day of the season, but Pardew has ruled out the possibility of the 27-year-old joining another club on a temporary basis.

The 52-year-old told The Times: "I think that he's a terrific player. He is fit. He wants to play, just like Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa wants to play, Hatem Ben Arfa wants to play, Papiss Cisse wants to play.

"Am I going to loan them all because they want a game? Of course not. They have to fight for their place and that's where Steven is.

"I had a very sensible conversation with Steven this week. I think that he knows where I stand with it all. I've said to him that we have a lot of games coming up."

Taylor had been linked with a move to Championship side Queens Park Rangers.