Taylor signs new deal with United after cancer battle
MAX Taylor has signed a new one-year contract with United.
The 20-year-old was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018 but returned to training in September for the first time in 11 months.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named Taylor in the United matchday squad for their penultimate Europa League group game against Astana in November and the Mancunian joined Stalybridge Celtic on loan in January.
“It’s a fantastic story, to see him coming back,” Solskjaer said. “I met Max very early after I got the job and have seen his journey back to full fitness and the way he’s conducted himself.
“He’s been through something no one should have to go through, but he’s come through the other end.
“He’s an inspiration for all the players. You can see when he’s out on the pitch there’s no fear anymore, he’s had fear in his life, when you’re on the football pitch you should enjoy yourself and I hope we can see him progress in his career. It’s a chance for us to give him extra motivation as well.”
Taylor endured a draining nineweek course of chemotherapy followed by a single day involving as much as eight hours of chemo and four hours of hydration before he was able to play again.
He has played six times for the Under-23s in Premier League 2 this term.
Meanwhile, young goalkeeper Jacob Carney has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The 19-year-old, who has trained with the first team on occasion in the past season, made the announcement on his own Twitter page, as United complete a series of contract extensions ahead of the summer.
Carney also spent part of last season on loan with non-league outfit Stockbridge Park Steels.