LONDON, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP/AFP) – Aston Villa manager
Steve Bruce will keep faith with Neil Taylor after the Wales defender broke Seamus Coleman’s leg in two places.
Taylor was sent off in Wales’ 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Friday after an ugly challenge on Coleman shattered the Everton star’s leg.
Coleman, who was discharged from a Dublin hospital on Wednesday following an operation, is expected to be out for at least six months and Taylor could be handed an extended ban by FIFA after they open proceedings against the Villa left-back.
Bruce admitted Taylor’s tackle was reckless but he doesn’t believe the player deserves to be hounded for an honest mistake and is planning to pick him for Saturday’s Championship fixture against Norwich.
“He’s never going to forget about it but he’s got to try and get on with it. He’s naturally saddened because it’s certainly not Neil Taylor,” Bruce said on Friday.
“He’s recovered from a serious injury himself (a broken ankle in 2012) so he knows what it is.
“He’s very disappointed with what’s happened, it’s saddened him as it’s saddened all of us. He’s just got to knuckle down and get on with it.
“He was reckless, he understands that. He hesitated and was in two minds whether he should go for the challenge but he’s caught him.
“It’s part and parcel, we see it every week and players get injured,
although none of us want to see it.”
FIFA’s hearing into the incident is likely to be held within the next
fortnight and Taylor’s ban could be increased to three games once the world
governing body studies the report of match referee Nicola Rizzoli.