Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor is adamant the players must ignore speculation surrounding the club's ownership and concentrate on football.

Owner Mike Ashley is still waiting on potential takeover bids but Taylor, 22, argued that football and on-the-field success must be the priority.

"We've got to concentrate on the pitch. We can't do anything about what happens off it," he told BBC Look North.

"As players and staff we've got to stick together as a team."

Greenwich-born Taylor joined Newcastle as a youth and climbed up through the ranks, making his Magpies debut in March 2004, after a spell on-loan with Wycombe.

Newcastle lost 2-1 at Fulham on Sunday, a result which leaves them in the relegation zone with 12 points from 12 games.

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