Steven Taylor says the ‘old school’ environment at Ipswich Town is something he has craved ever since his days as a young player under Sir Bobby Robson’s management at Newcastle United.

The 31-year-old defender made more than 200 appearances for the Magpies, most of them in the Premier League, then spent the second half of last year proving his fitness at American side Portland Timbers following a few injury-hit years.

Snapped up on a short-term contract until the end of the season by Blues boss Mick McCarthy, he could make his debut in tomorrow’s home game against third-place Reading.

“What happens here has brought back some memories for me,” he said. “At Newcastle, as a 16-year-old coming through under Bobby Robson, you had to do certain chores around the place – like cleaning the boots, getting shampoo for the first team, not eating until the first team had eaten.

“When the old heads left it didn’t happen anymore and I’ve been craving that sort of environment for years. I think the game misses that. I think young kids should earn the respect of the first-teamers.

“I came here and a young lad came straight up to me and said ‘do you want me to clean your boots?’ I wasn’t used to that!

“Mick McCarthy is very old-school and that was how it was with Bobby (Robson) too.”

Taylor added: “There was a move to a club in Europe that was quite close to happening and a few clubs in the Championship interested.

“I don’t have an agent because I believe in speaking to a manager man-to-man and cutting out the middle men. There aren’t many managers who ring you up direct, so when Mick McCarthy did that it was a big thing for me.

“For me there is nothing better than the English game. I love testing myself on cold nights in horrible stadiums. Are you man enough to accept that? I relish those sort of challenges, I always have.

“I watched the game on Tuesday night (3-0 home defeat to Derby). We’ll stick together. Don’t sulk and don’t hide is the big thing. We’ve got to accept the situation and get on with it. We’ve got some good leaders here already, but hopefully I can bring a bit of that to the table.”