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Ryan Taylor will take another step closer to a first-team return today by joining his team-mates on the plane to Lisbon.

Taylor is in the United party so he can step up his fitness work in the warm climate after spending eight months out with a knee injury.

And he has urged his team-mates to keep his dream of playing in the Europa League alive.

It was the Scouser’s stunning free-kick against Atromitos that opened Newcastle’s account in the competition back in August in Athens during the 1-1 draw in the play-off round.

And he hopes that his dreams of playing in the Amsterdam final are kept intact by his team-mates.

Taylor told the Chronicle: “I’m going to go to Benfica and do a bit of training out there and watch the game.

“I won’t be ready for it, but I’ll be out there with the lads.

“Hopefully, we’ll go through. I might be available for the semis if we get through, who knows?”

Taylor is nearing the end of a long hard road after damaging knee ligaments during the second leg of the play-off tie at St James’ Park.

And he is keen to make up for lost time.

He said: “It’s only been seven or eight months.

“It’s not that long when you think about it, but in footballing terms it’s a full season. It would be nice to put that in the past and concentrate on these last few weeks.

“I’m just looking to get back before the end of the season.

“Atromitos was the last full game I played.

“It’s quite astonishing, really. It does seem a long time ago.”

His boss Alan Pardew has already confessed in public Newcastle have missed Taylor this term.

Set-pieces have suffered badly during the campaign without his dead-ball deliveries.

Taylor – who wrote his name into Geordie folklore by whipping in a free-kick against Sunderland last season – said: “The gaffer made a joke that I might be fit for the final.

“It would be nice! I scored the first goal in Europe, and who knows, I could score the last goal!

“There’s still a lot to play for.”

United will make a late call on their squad for Lisbon, with Davide Santon, Massadio Haidara and Cheick Tiote all in contention for the trip.