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Taylor Profile

Matthew Taylor, Bolton Wanderers 

Matthew Taylor

Born: 27th November 1981, Oxford, England

International Honours: U21 level

Position: Left Back/Left Midfield

Squad Number: 32

Former Clubs: Luton Town, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers

Bolton manager Gary Megson beat off fierce competition from a number of clubs to sign Portsmouth's Matt Taylor on a three and a half year deal in January 2008.

Megson had monitored Taylor's progress since the player was at Luton Town and he was delighted to be able to finally get his man and give the Wanderera another dimension down the left hand side.

Taylor began his career with Luton Town as a trainee in 1999 and he made his debut for the Hatters on the opening day of the 1999-2000 season when they shared out a goalless draw with Sam Allardyce's Notts County team.

He kept his place at left back for the majority of that season, missing just a handful of games and it was the same case the following season when he was absent for just one match.

His performances at Kenilworth Road attracted the attention of many bigger clubs and in the summer of 2002 he joined up with former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp as part of the dynasty that was being formed down on the South Coast.

He was a tried and tested member of the Pompey side to win promotion to the Premiership as Division 1 champions in 2003 and in his first season in the top flight he competed with the likes of Dejan Stefanovic and Boris Zivkovic for a place in the defence.

In 2004-2005 the competition for places was still there at Pompey but nonetheless Taylor remained an integral part of the squad and even netted his first Premier League goal in a win over Middlesbrough.

During the 2005-2006 season he really shot to prominence scoring six goals for the season and often operating in a more forward role, all this despite a number of managerial changes on the South Coast.

In 2006 he was tipped to be called up to the England squad by then Three Lions boss Sven Goran Eriksson and his form for club in 2006-2007 did his chances no harm.

He scored some excellent long range goals including a Goal of the Season contender against Everton where he hit a volley from just offset of the half way line.

This current campaign he has found chances limited at Portsmouth due to the form of Niko Krancjar, although he did manage to hit the winner in a game against Bolton back in late August.

BOLTON RECORD:

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