Mystery man Taylor

Last updated : 11 July 2004 By Tony Scholes

Michael Taylor during his loan spell at Carlisle
First thoughts were that they had made a mistake and youth player Alex Taylor was getting a start but he was then named as a substitute.

Michael Taylor has been training with the club for the past few days after being released by our neighbours Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season. The 21-year-old Liverpool born defender has come through the youth system at Ewood but has failed to break into the first team.

He has played league football though, during the 2002/03 season, in two loan spells both of which were in the 3rd Division.


In August 2002 he went to Carlisle United on a three month loan and made a total of twelve appearances for the Cumbrians including ten in the league and an FA Cup debut. He returned to Blackburn just before the New Year.

By the end of March he was out on loan again, this time at Rochdale, but it was with little success. He turned in an impressive debut on the right hand side of a back three in a home defeat against Torquay but three days later, again at home, he was disappointing against Bristol Rovers.


He was left out of the side and returned to Blackburn early and went back into their reserve team.

Last season he remained with Blackburn for the entire season and was a regular in the reserves before leaving at the end of the season.


There has been no indication from the Clarets as to how long he might be with the club but manager Steve Cotterill is keeping his cards very close to his chest.