Neil Taylor backed by Steve Bruce after horror tackle on Seamus Coleman – with an instant return for Aston Villa against Norwich
Wales full-back's reckless lunge left the Ireland defender with a double leg-break but his club chief urges him to 'knuckle down'
STEVE BRUCE is backing Neil Taylor after his horror tackle on Seamus Coleman — by putting him straight in the firing line.
The Wales full-back’s X- rated tackle in last week’s World Cup qualifier in Dublin left Republic of Ireland defender Coleman with a double leg-break.
Taylor’s Aston Villa boss Bruce described the challenge as “reckless” and admitted his January signing from Swansea was “saddened, shocked and disappointed” by events.
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But, after talks with the player this week, Bruce is ready to throw Taylor back in today against Norwich.
He said: “It is best he plays straightaway. He’s disappointed but he has to live with it.
“It does happen. He’s been very good since he came here. It is unfortunate that it has happened to him. He has got our support.
“We feel desperately disappointed and saddened for Seamus. Our thoughts are with him for a speedy recovery.”
As for Taylor’s recovery, Bruce added: “He’s never going to forget about it but he’s got to try to get on with it.
“He’s naturally saddened. He’s recovered from a serious injury himself so he knows what it is. It’s saddened him as it’s saddened all of us.
“He’s just got to knuckle down and get on with it.”
Fifa have now opened disciplinary proceedings against the Villa defender, 28, which could see his one-game ban extended. But Bruce said: “It seems a bit extreme if Fifa are getting involved.”
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Taylor phoned Coleman this week after getting his number from international colleague Ashley Williams, an Everton team-mate of the Irishman’s.
He is understood to have apologised for the tackle and Bruce added: “We never ever go out to intentionally hurt an opponent. He’s disappointed himself because Neil wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone.”
Bruce suffered a horror injury himself and recalled: “Tommy Tynan broke my leg against Newport when I was playing for Gillingham.
“I tried to have a kick at him so it was my own fault!
“Most of us accept you are going to get an injury but you hope it is not a serious one.”