Steve Bruce can discover Newcastle United’s next Steven Taylor with the capture of Hull City prospect Jacob Greaves in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are among a host of English sides monitoring Greaves’ situation at the KCOM Stadium as the young centre-half continues to catch the eye.

A number of Championship outfits have been scouting the 20-year-old this season after Greaves established himself in Grant McCann’s first-team squad, starting all 12 of his League One appearances as the Tigers strive to secure an immediate return to the second-tier.

McCann awarded Greaves his step up to the Hull first-team in October after a successful season on loan with Cheltenham Town in League Two last term, and could soon be on the move again as more and more suitors descend on Humberside.

The Tigers boss expects Greaves will enjoy a strong career in professional football, having returned to the fold a better player and with more experience after his brief spell away.

“I’ve been really impressed. We saw a lot of him last year at Cheltenham and he won the EFL player of the month award the first month he was there. It’s brilliant to see him play two games and play like he has done. It’s a testament to him,” McCann said, via quotes by Hull Live.

“We see him every single day and we know what he has got. He has all the capabilities to go on and have a tremendous career. He’s come in and looked very assured in and out of possession, he’s been brilliant.”

Newcastle’s next Steven Taylor

Bruce urging Mike Ashley to sanction a January deal for Greaves to join Newcastle could see the Magpies discover their next Taylor, who proved an outstanding player in black and white during his 12 years in the Toon first-team.

Taylor made 268 appearances for Newcastle across all competitions before joining Portland Timbers in 2016, having proven a hit following his graduation from the Magpies academy in 2004 when awarded his senior debut under Sir Bobby Robson aged 18.

Bruce could have his own Taylor in Greaves, who has helped Hull to keep five clean sheets in League One this term with 0.8 successful tackles a game, plus 1.3 interceptions, 4.3 clearances, 1.8 ground duels won, 4.3 aerial contests won and is dribbled past just 0.3 times a game, per SofaScore.

The 20-year-old has also proven to be a safe bet in possession with 35.9 accurate passes a game, while penning an 88% completion rate for passes played in Tigers territory, and is yet to commit an error that has led to a shot, goal or penalty be awarded in the third-tier.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce is keen to sign a “fantastic” £15.5m-rated brute for Newcastle United...