The Australian attacker has returned to fitness after missing the first half of September but played the entire second-half in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Gangwon FC.
It was a much-needed victory, just the second in nine games, for the struggling four-time Korean champions and moved them three points ahead of bottom team Incheon United who currently occupy the relegation spot.
With the 12-team league now split into two groups of six, Suwon have five games to come against relegation rivals starting on Sunday with the big one against old enemy FC Seoul on Sunday, a meeting known as 'The Supermatch' in South Korea.
Regardless of bragging rights, Suwon can’t afford more missteps with Incheon, who were adrift at the bottom of the table until recently, coming into form and collecting 13 points from the last seven games to spark a relegation battle.
“We need our strikers to start scoring goals in the next five games and Taggart is the best striker we have,” a Suwon official told The World Game.
“We have been reliant recently on Yeom Ki-hun and scoring from set pieces.”
None of Suwon’s strikers have scored in the six games since Taggart netted in a 3-1 loss to Jeonbuk Motors on August 15. Both goals against Gangwon came courtesy of a corner and free-kick delivered by Yeom, the club’s veteran winger.
“It is no secret that this has been a poor season but now the focus is on getting the points we need to avoid relegation," the official added.
"Taggart can help the team do that even if he leaves at the end of the season.”
It is expected that Taggart, top scorer in the K League last season, will leave at the end of the current campaign with interest in the Socceroos striker coming from clubs in the Middle East.
“We know that there are overseas clubs that are looking to sign Taggart and expect that he will leave, but if he can help us to stay in the K League before he goes then that will be great for everyone.”
