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Luton Town loanee Joe Taylor has been impressing so far in his loan spell at Colchester United. The 20-year old striker has scored four league goals in six games for the League Two side, also notching against Championship outfit Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.
Despite The U's disappointing form so far this season, Taylor’s performances have earned him strong praise from the fans of the Essex club.
The striker has shown his willingness to wait on the last man and get in behind defences, as well as how his turn of pace which combined with intelligent movement can let him lose his marker and finish from balls whipped across the box.
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards highlighted this as Taylor’s strongest aspect of the game when the former Peterborough United man first joined the club, something which is perhaps rare for a young forward in the modern game.
Edwards said: “He knows what he's good at. He’s got pace, he likes to play off the shoulder and run in behind teams.
“You don't see many strikers running in behind all the time, a lot of stuff comes to feet and defenders don't like people running in behind them.”
The young forward was substituted in the second half of two out of the last three games he has played in however, with Ben Garner fearing his combative play might see Taylor receive a red card.
Garner said: “We don’t want to take away from Joe’s passion and love of the game. It’s just a bit of an education.
“In the last two games, it’s got to the point where there’s been a danger of a red card and it’s meant that he’s had to be taken off, for his own benefit.
“He’s shown what he’s capable of doing for us and we just need to keep working with him and be patient. I think he’s a very strong signing who will do well for us but it’s our job to educate him and develop him, at the same time.”
Taylor followed this up with a strong outing in his side’s 2-0 victory over Tranmere last weekend however, with Garner hailing Colchester's showing a ‘complete performance’.
The young forward latched onto the end of a fantastic through ball from ex-Luton Town man Arthur Read, using his speed to take a touch away from the defender and slot past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Rob Edwards has confirmed plans are in place for Taylor to return to Luton after his spell in Essex, so Colchester United fans may want to avoid ‘falling in love with a loan player’ for the time being.