Steven Taylor: Newcastle are laughing all the way to the Premier League

Steven Taylor says Newcastle are laughing all the way back to the Premier League - because training ground divisions have been banned.

The defender reckons he has never enjoyed a season so much, because bickering and boasting is out, and bonding is in at St James’ Park.

Taylor believes Newcastle will be tough to catch after racking up a fourth consecutive win against Preston on Monday, and has revealed the atmosphere has been transformed from the grim days of a year ago.

He said: “I’m loving it. It’s just a totally different mood about the place. We’re going into training now and having a right good laugh. We know when we have to be serious, but we also know that it’s good to have a joke as a group of lads.

“The banter is absolutely fantastic on the training ground, and it hasn’t always been like that in the time I’ve been at Newcastle.

“We’re all mingling in together as a group, and we know how to take each other, whereas a few years ago you might have got some people forming their own little groups.

“There’s none of that now - everyone’s together and everyone gets involved. I just wish the public could see what we were like on the inside of the dressing room now because I think it’s something to be proud of.

“We’re loving it, and it’s a real honour for me to be playing with this group of lads. I feel really lucky.

“As team-mates, we know we’re going to back each other up. Last season, I’m not sure we had that as much. But I think now, with this squad, there’s a real sense of spirit.

“The coaches have been absolutely fantastic in terms of keeping it together because it has been difficult for everybody. But now we know we have a manager in Chris [Hughton] and it’s all settled. That’s what we want. We’re looking after ourselves and Chris is doing a great job.”

Despite being top and six points clear of third, Newcastle have yet to hit top form and lack a consistent goalscorer, apart from Kevin Nolan who is turning into a major force in this promotion push.

The hiccup of defeats at Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest last month has been forgotten. Taylor added: “Questions were asked when we lost at Blackpool and Scunthorpe, but I think we’ve answered them fairly convincingly. We’re a different side this year - we’re more together. We have to stick together in this league because it’s tough.

“Teams are going to keep coming and throwing everything at us, but I think we’ve shown we can handle that. We can pass the ball, but we can also do the dirty side of things as well.”

Taylor has forged a solid partnership with Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini who has showed some composed form at the back after last season’s difficult start in England.

Taylor said: “It’s nice that there hasn’t really been the chopping and changing in defence this season. I feel like I’ve got a decent understanding with Fabricio now and long may that continue. We work well together in training, and I think that shows on the pitch.

“Hopefully, we can continue to build on that.”