Camera-shy Taylor has last laugh on toothless Newcastle

Ryan Taylor has finally taken a starring role for Wigan but is shunning the television spotlight for fear of appearing like Jim Carrey.

Taylor scored a stirring 64th-minute free-kick winner in Boxing Day's 1-0 victory over a woeful Newcastle at the JJB Stadium that lifted the Latics out of the Premier League relegation zone. It was only Taylor's second goal for Wigan, with his first back in February also a free-kick in a 1-0 home win over Newcastle. But while Taylor was happy to field questions from the print media, he had no intention of facing the cameras.

"I chipped a front tooth after biting into a sweet on Christmas Eve," he said. "As the dentists have been shut I've been unable to do anything about it. Until it gets done I won't do any television interviews because I look like Jim Carrey's character out of Dumb and Dumber."

Right-back Taylor had to play out of position on the left wing because of the return of the captain, Mario Melchiot, to the side following his completion of a three-match ban. That mattered little to Taylor who is happy that his new manager, Steve Bruce, is prepared to play him anywhere such is his belief in his ability compared to the previous manager, Chris Hutchings. "Steve has showed great faith in me," Taylor said.