Newcastle's Steven Taylor tipped to save the day against Aston Villa

The England Under-21 skipper will have to curb the free-scoring ways of international colleague Gabriel Agbonlahor when Aston Villa visit Tyneside and interim manager Joe Kinnear has every confidence that his centre-half will rise to the challenge.

"I think Taylor has all the ability to go all the way," Kinnear said. "He's a terrific lad in training, Geordie through and through, run through a brick wall for you. He's as brave as a lion.

"Everything will come through experience. As he grows and gets more and more confidence he will get even better. I know there is talk about him playing for the seniors.

"He has some habits which need ironing out but I have sat down with him and his answer was 'well, no one has ever told me that.' I told him I see deficiencies in all players, doesn't matter if you are the best in the world, you will still have deficiencies.

Kinnear, who played as a defender for Tottenham, added: "We need him to be tighter, stronger, not drop off, those sorts of things. He has had habits he needs to come out of. He can do it. He has two good feet and he's good on the ball.

"But I feel he needs to be tougher, punch his weight but all the ability is there. Need to get tight as you possibly can, don't show your opposition too much respect, let them worry about you. He has grown up as well.

"I had Michael Dawson at Nottingham Forest, he went to Spurs, a similar type of player, came through the Under-21s. Taylor is a real athlete, strong; it is maybe just his decision-making at times. That comes with experience."

While Taylor keeps a lookout for Agbonlahor, Argentinian centre-half Fabricio Coloccini will no doubt be asked to halt towering John Carew in his tracks but despite Newcastle's defensive frailties, Kinnear is backing them to provide the platform for a much-needed victory against Martin O'Neill's Champions League hopefuls.

"I think they can play with each other, but obviously we have spoken about it," Kinnear added.

"We have worked really hard on the training ground but it is a case of them having to play alongside each other because there is no one else.

"I think they will be OK. I feel very optimistic of getting a result against Villa, especially playing at home."