Steven Taylor's jaw broken after 'bust-up' with Newcastle team-mate Andy Carroll

By Colin Young

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has suffered a broken jaw following an alleged row with team-mate Andy Carroll over the striker's ex-girlfriend.



Both players needed surgery yesterday after the extraordinary bust-up at the club's training ground.



Taylor is understood to have had his jaw wired and this season's top scorer Carroll, who is already facing a court case next month over an alleged serious assault in a Newcastle nightclub, is believed to have had an operation on his hand.



Another injury: Taylor is certain to miss the rest of the season with a broken jaw

Sportsmail understands 20-year-old Carroll attacked Taylor before training yesterday morning after discovering the centre-back had received texts from a former partner.

The incredible story, which Newcastle have refused to comment on, has echoes of the John Terry/ Wayne Bridge affair which rocked the England camp and the dressing rooms of Chelsea and Manchester City last month.



But this time the two players at the heart of the story are still in the same squad, although former England Under 21 captain Taylor has been out for two months and had only just returned to full scale training after a lengthy lay-off with a serious knee injury.



Accused: It is claimed Carroll hurt Taylor at training

The 24-year-old, who was last week named Newcastle's Sports Personality of the Year, has undergone two months of rigorous rehabilitation in a bid to return to the side and lift his first trophy with the club.



But his season is almost certainly over now. Last night Newcastle refused to comment on reports that Taylor's broken jaw came as a result of the dressing-room spat with Carroll, who has played such an important role in the club's promotion campaign.



Sources close to the defender and the Newcastle squad also refused to comment on the speculation. Carroll is currently on bail and awaiting a Crown Court trial over a charge of assault in an alleged incident in a Newcastle city centre club last year.



The England Under 21 striker, whose late equaliser at Bristol City on Saturday helped maintain Newcastle's lead at the top of the Championship, is due back in court at the end of April.



He is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Michael Cook in the Blu Bambu club in December. It was alleged in Newcastle Magistrates Court last month that Carroll smashed a glass into Mr Cook's face. Carroll, who became a father in September, was also cautioned a year before his daughter was born for assault on a woman in Newcastle city centre. This latest incident will be an unwelcome distraction for manager Chris Hughton as he prepares to face Doncaster tonight.

Carroll, who took his season's tally to 15 at Ashton Gate, will not be in the squad. However controversial midfielder Joey Barton, himself no stranger to the inside of a courtroom, is back in contention for the first time since September after he came through a reserves run-out last week and suffered no after-affects to his troublesome foot.

Taylor was discharged from hospital on Tuesday evening after undergoing treatment on an orthopaedic trauma ward.



Owner Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias have launched an internal investigation

but Northumbria Police have confirmed that the matter has not been reported to them.

