Steven Taylor did not need much convincing to move to Dubai. Forget the weather and job opportunities; Dubai's time zone means it is now a lot easier for the 36-year-old to follow his beloved Newcastle United.
Having previously had to get up in the early hours of the morning to watch his former side, while he was playing at the Wellington Phoenix, Taylor does not have to set his alarm clock at 2am these days. It's just as well because Taylor needs all the sleep he can get in his first managerial role at Gulf United.
Although training has finished at 10am local time, it is 32 degrees out when we speak and Taylor's phone ends up overheating and shutting down. It gives you an idea of the sweltering conditions Newcastle players will be training in this week during their warm-weather break and, perhaps, Taylor was only half joking when he said he was 'definitely missing the weather' back home.
