Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has penned a new three-year deal to keep him at St James' Park until the summer of 2011, according to reports.News of the versatile defender's new contract will bring an end to ongoing speculation over the highly-rated star's future.

The 22-year-old has never made any secret of his desire to remain at his hometown club and his commitment to the cause has never been questioned among the Magpies faithful.

The St James' Park academy graduate is believed to have agreed a deal worth somewhere in the region of £35,000 per week.

The England Under-21 captain has been a regular member of the first-team squad at Newcastle since making his debut back in 2004 and will be delighted to have laid to rest an issue which had threatened to undermine the club's pre-season preparations.

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