text: A supporter waits the best part of an hour for five seconds with Ryan Taylor. There is a quick picture and good-luck message ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby. He is, evidently, one of the few players genuinely respected by Newcastle's disillusioned fans. Taylor scored the winner at the Stadium of Light three seasons ago, affording him a terrace tribute – 'Ryan Taylor, over the wall' – as well as a place in black-and-white folklore. But there is more to the Toon Army's admiration than one free-kick against the enemy. A working-class Scouser who came through the ranks at Tranmere and made 100 appearances by the time he was 21 before beating three career-threatening injuries, Taylor 'gets' the proud principles of the North East – appreciation, hard graft, honesty and enjoyment. He has himself been a fan in the crowd during three of the last four derby defeats - he watched the other from a hotel room in America after undergoing surgery on the second of the cruciate ligament injuries which kept him out for 26 months. Newcastle utility player Ryan Taylor (right) shields the ball from Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck . Taylor scores with a superb free-kick against Sunderland to win the game 1-0 at the Stadium of Light . Taylor is congratulated by Newcastle defender Steven Taylor  in the club's last victory over Sunderland . Newcastle supported him through that long rehabilitation, something for which Taylor will always be grateful. But with his current contract at St James' Park set to expire this summer, the 30-year-old does not know what the future holds. He would like to remain on Tyneside. He accepts, though, that this could be his final taste of the fixture which has guaranteed him lifelong worship. 'I have to be realistic, this could be my last derby,' he told Sportsmail. 'I don't want it to be, but that will be in my mind. So I'm not going to let it go the way of the last four - that cannot carry on. 'I've left the stadium gutted after every one of them and I've felt it like a fan. So we owe it to them now. 'I grew up with Liverpool and Everton, but that isn't as big because you live in the same house a lot of the time. 'So I'll be doing everything I can personally do to make sure we're up for it, because our performances in the last four just haven't been good enough.' Taylor returned after more than two years of painstaking gym sessions alone for October's 2-0 win at Manchester City in the League Cup. He was man-of-the-match and was greeted by a standing ovation in the dressing-room, where text messages from the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen awaited. Ninety minutes against the champions, however, had taken its toll. In the next game, at home to QPR, St James' was stunned into silence when, after half an hour, a tearful Taylor sat himself on the turf clutching the same ill-fated knee. Taylor's injury record at Newcastle has severely limited his first-team appearances over the past few years . The 30-year-old is incredibly grateful to Newcastle for sticking by him and hopes to repay them on Sunday . 'I thought to myself, 'Why me?',' he reflects. 'You start doubting whether the knee will ever be strong enough. I was thinking, 'What have I skipped? What have I done wrong?'. 'Within an hour of the game I'd had a scan and the cruciate was fine, relief isn't the word. I'd probably got through the City game on pure adrenaline. So I think it was my body telling me just take your time. 'I won't lie, the fact I'm out of contract was on my mind and I wanted to be back sooner than the three months it took. 'Every game felt like another game off my career. But we did what was right and now there are no problems at all. 'I'll admit there were times when I thought I couldn't do it and my old man just told me 'no'. 'So when you've had the tears and those dark days, you appreciate every minute.' On the subject of dark days, both Newcastle and Sunderland are horribly out of form going into what has been billed as 'The Desperation Derby'. The Black Cats could be in the relegation zone by the time kick-off arrives, while Newcastle have lost their last three under John Carver. To suffer another loss in the derby could prove unforgivable in the eyes of supporters whose last victory arrived courtesy of Taylor's right boot in August, 2011. 'The good thing is we've got a cracking game now and if anything can rally us for the rest of the season then this is it,' says Taylor, who will start at right back. 'To be on a winning team on the ground where it all started for me would make everything worthwhile, all of the hard work and long days during those two years. 'But I remember that day so well. It was my first derby. I've played in two now and I'm yet to lose. 'Jonas (Gutierrez) won a foul just on the corner of the box. My first Premier League goal – for Wigan against Newcastle – was from that exact position, so I fancied it. 'I remember seeing Simon Mignolet edging out, almost inviting me to put it in the top corner. That's what I did. Steven Taylor tried to claim it, but he was nowhere near it. He tried to celebrate my goal by himself! 'I knew my dad and brother were in the away end celebrating and I just thought, 'Wow. They will be having some time in there'. Taylor is one of the most popular players at Newcastle for his consistent and hard working performances . 'Dan Gosling – one of my best mates – went through on goal in the last minute. Looking back, I'm probably relieved he didn't score to make it 2-0! 'I didn't realise at the time how big scoring the winner was and how much I would be remembered for just one goal. 'It'll be amazing if I'm coming back here in 10 years' time with my two boys and they're still singing that song.' Taylor adds: 'I'll always be a Newcastle fan. This club has been brilliant with me. I could have been the forgotten man but they stuck by me. 'Now I need to show them that I can stay fit. I've had some terrible luck, but I'd like to think I've got a lot left in me. 'So this final part of the season is massive for me – I would love to stay here.' And with that the supporter has his photo. 'What's going to happen on Sunday?' Taylor is asked. '1-0. Ryan Taylor. Over the wall,' he laughs. You can see why they like him in these parts. Taylor is out of contract at the end of the season and admits he does not know what the future has in store .
target: Ryan Taylor's injury record has severely limited the number of first-team appearances he has made for Newcastle .
  Still, the 30-year-old utility player is one of the most popular at the club .
  Taylor etched himself into Newcastle folklore in 2011 by scoring the winner with a superb free-kick against rivals Sunderland .
  He is out of contract in the summer and Sunday's fixture at the Stadium of Light could be his last derby in a Newcastle shirt .