The 25-year old central defender has been a rock at the heart of the Magpies rearguard alongside skipper Fabricio Coloccini, and their form has been the foundation for three clean sheets in four Premier League games. Pardew said: "Steven Taylor is probably playing the best football of his career for me. I think he has a chance of being involved in England again. "I think the management should come and have a look at him, he's doing that well. He is a good player, Steven." Capello has been criticised during his reign for not making regular trips to the north-east, although members of his staff have visited both Tyneside and Wearside. However, Pardew has invited the Italian to experience the atmosphere at St James' Park first hand to see Taylor in the flesh. He said: "I do see a tendency of players to be picked elsewhere than in the north-east. "Steven Taylor is definitely playing at a level where he should be considered, in my view. "I don't know how many times the England manager has seen us this year or seen us last year or has been to games in the north-east, but he would be welcome, most certainly." Meanwhile, new boy Davide Santon has been denied a senior debut for the club at Aston Villa by a knee injury suffered in training. The 20-year-old former Inter Milan left-back had put himself in contention for a role at Villa on Saturday after playing 70 minutes of the reserves' 6-0 drubbing of Norwich on Tuesday afternoon. However, Pardew has revealed Santon was sent for a scan after hurting his knee on the training ground this morning and will not travel to the midlands. He said: "Unfortunately, David has hurt his knee this morning. He's going for a scan today. That's not good news for us. "He's having a scan on what looks like a possible cartilage [injury]. His knee looked a little bit unhealthy after training today. "It's an injury he's had previously, so I think it's very wise that the doctor and his team have had him scanned today to make sure. "I'm not actually sure of the mechanics of it [how it occurred]. It's very important he has a good start at this football club, so we want to make sure he's 100 per cent." Pardew will hope Santon's injury does not prove too serious after working hard to recruit him as a replacement for Jose Enrique following the Spaniard's summer departure for Liverpool. Utility man Ryan Taylor has started the season at left-back and has played his part in an encouraging opening to the campaign for the Magpies. However, he found the going significantly tougher at Loftus Road when presented with the task of trying to keep England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips quiet, and Pardew will hope to have specialist Santon bedded in sooner rather than later. However, there was better news of Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa, whose recovery from an ankle injury suffered in pre-season is nearing the point where he can return, perhaps as early as Tuesday night's Carling Cup third round trip to Nottingham Forest. Pardew said: "He has trained very well. I don't think he will be involved this weekend, but with the opportunity of the Carling Cup coming up this week, I think there's a chance he could feature in that game."
