STEVEN TAYLOR will lock horns with the man he credits with kick-starting his football career when Newcastle United travel to West Brom at the weekend.

West Brom boss Alan Irvine was the head of Newcastle’s academy when Taylor was progressing through the club’s youth set-up a little over a decade ago.

The Scotsman was quick to spot the teenage centre-half’s ability, and having overseen his involvement at under-17 level, where Newcastle claimed the old Premier Academy League title, he pushed Sir Bobby Robson to start integrating both Taylor and Shola Ameobi into the first team.

Irvine eventually left Tyneside to work with David Moyes at Everton, and after managerial spells at Preston and Sheffield Wednesday, was appointed as manager of West Brom this summer.

Taylor remembers the pair’s time together with fondness, and is quick to highlight Irvine’s involvement as one of the key factors in his progression from the junior to senior ranks.

“I have massive respect for Alan Irvine, because he is one of the best coaches I have ever had,” said the centre-half. “He coached me as a young kid coming through at under-17 level.

“He had massive respect from everyone when he was here as the academy director. I haven’t seen anything really close to Alan Irvine and Tommy Craig. They had that aura about them, and I think we went through a whole season and only got beat once.

“We got to the play-off final against Man United at St James’ Park. He had that respect and everyone was nervous and scared around him, because of that aura, and that Scottish, angry face. If you were to go 2-0 down, he was laying right into you.”

Irvine was also involved with Blackburn Rovers’ academy before moving into senior coaching, and the 56-year-old established a positive reputation for developing young players during the early years of his coaching career.

His time in charge of Preston and Sheffield Wednesday was rather less successful, and he returned to the academy environment when he took over youth affairs at Everton following his departure from Hillsborough.

At that stage, it looked as though his senior managerial career was over before it had really begun, but he was confirmed as the shock successor to Pepe Mel in June.

Most neutral observers were surprised by the appointment, but Taylor always expected his former mentor to return to frontline management before too long.

Under Irvine’s guidance, West Brom sit 11th in the table ahead of Sunday’s game at the Hawthorns, and Taylor is not surprised to see youngsters like Saido Berahino flourishing under the Scotsman’s control.

“He has done well at West Brom and got them well-organised,” he said. “He has just given them a new lift, and they are playing with confidence, so it will be a difficult game. We know it’s going to be a completely different game to the Liverpool one, and we’re looking forward to it.

“I think he has waited for his chance and he did well as assistant manager to David Moyes at Everton. I’m absolutely delighted that he’s done so well, but I hope he has a hiccup against us.”

* Paul Dummett has been named in the Wales squad for this month’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Belgium, with Moussa Sissoko named alongside on-loan defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in the France squad for matches against Albania and Sweden.

Rolando Aarons features in the England under-20 squad, with Adam Armstrong and Freddie Woodman selected for England at under-18 level.

* Remie Streete has extended his loan deal with Port Vale until January 4, and is available for this weekend’s FA Cup first-round game with MK Dons. The 20-year-old defender has made two loan appearances for the League One club so far.