Lyle Taylor: Cambridge United striker eager to make impact after debut goal - BBC Sport

Lyle Taylor: Cambridge United striker eager to make impact after debut goal

Lyle Taylor playing for Cambridge
Lyle Taylor makes his Cambridge debut, replacing James Brophy

Lyle Taylor was delighted with his first goal since April 2022 having only just "put his head round the door" at Cambridge United.

The 33-year-old former Nottingham Forest striker joined the U's on Friday following the expiry of a short-term contract with Wycombe.

He scored 14 minutes after being sent on as a substitute against Fleetwood and they went on to win the game 2-1.

"It's been a while - I'm really happy," Taylor told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"There was no way I was going to start the game. I literally put my head through the door on Friday morning.

"It was always going to be 'give us what you can, whether that's 30, 35, 40 minutes, whatever, and we'll build from that point forwards'.

"I'll be working on my relationship with my team-mates to try and get the best out of everyone. I'm here to help the team - and (for) the team to help me."

The much-travelled Taylor's previous goal came during a loan spell at Birmingham City and he did not play a league game from May 2022 until joining Wycombe in November.

Cambridge are 16th in League One following the win over Fleetwood, secured with an added-time goal by Sully Kaikai, with Taylor supplying the assist to round off a busy few days.

He said the chance to play under manager Neil Harris was the reason for his move to Cambridge.

"It was a chance for me to play football under somebody who knows me, has seen me grow over the last 15 years of my career and knows what I can do and what I'm not necessarily fantastic at," he added.

"He brought me here to do a job and I want to do that from now to the end of the season and who knows what happens beyond that.

"I'm fit. I've had two injuries in my career, I'm not one of those players (who is injured a lot). I'm not a shrinking violet, I will put myself about and will do everything I can to score goals for this team.

"We're a lot more athletic now than football was when I started 15 years ago. I'd like to think I'm in good shape, I'd like to think I can carry myself and get about the pitch and I'm here to prove that."

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