STEVEN TAYLOR is expected to miss the remainder of the season after damaging his Achilles during Newcastle's 3-3 draw with Burnley.

Having scored the opening goal at St James' Park, Taylor fell awkwardly after a innocuous-looking challenge on the hour mark and required lengthy treatment.

He eventually left the ground on crutches, with a protective boot on the lower half of his left leg, and while a series of scans will reveal the full extent of the damage, caretaker boss John Carver fears the worst.

“It looks like Steven has ruptured his Achilles tendon,” said Carver. “It’s not the one he did previously, so I think that’s probably him until the end of the season.

“I’ve known Steven since he was in the centre of excellence and he’s a great lad. It was great for him to get the goal, it was set up for him, but when he landed, you could tell from the way he fell it wasn’t good. Unfortunately, it’s not looking good at all.”

Taylor's absence would leave Newcastle with Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Paul Dummett as their only available senior centre-halves.