TAYLOR FIT AND RARING TO GO

City full-back available for selection after calf knock

City full-back Andrew Taylor has declared himself fit and fully available for selection ahead of City's Barclays Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.

The Bluebirds take on Steve Clarke's side at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday and have been buoyed by Taylor's return to fitness, after shaking off a calf injury that kept him out of City's last two games against Stoke City and Crystal Palace.

And now back and raring to go, Taylor is looking forward to getting back involved with the squad this weekend, saying: "I'm available. I've trained all week now and the calf is feeling good.

"Every player will tell you when you're injured and watching games it's always one of the hardest things – I thought we got a good result against Stoke but it was a disappointing result at Palace. We need to bounce back from that now."

City take on the Baggies looking to immediately bounce back from last weekend's disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with games now coming thick and fast for the Bluebirds as the frenetic festive period draws near.

"It's a big game," said Taylor, "They've had some decent results this season but it'll be a big game for both clubs. A win for either of us will push us up the league and hopefully it'll be us with the three points at the end of it.

"It is an important period. I think we won every game over the Christmas period last season to put us into a fantastic position going into the last part of the campaign.

"Games come thick and fast and if you can put a decent little run together, pick up a few wins, then you can find yourself in a very different position to the one you started in. It is going to be important to us."

Taylor also reserved praise for young full-back Declan John who stood in at left-back in the Bluebirds' matches against Stoke City and Crystal Palace to underline his promise as a Premier League full-back for the future.

"I think Dec has done really well," said Taylor. "He did well against Stoke on the Wednesday night and obviously against Crystal Palace it was a tough game for everybody. It's all valuable experience for him and I think he's going to have a massive future in the game."

WATCH MALKY MACKAY AND ANDREW TAYLOR GIVE THEIR PRE-MATCH VIEWS ON YOUTUBE. TO SUBSCRIBE CLICK HERE FOR FREE NOW.