Why Steven Taylor won't be facing Sunderland in League One

Taylor has been in talks with A-League club Wellington Phoenix.

The 32-year-old – who spent last season at Peterborough United – is understood to have travelled to New Zealand late last week.

And Taylor's move to Wellington – who played Newcastle in a pre-season friendly at the 34,500-capacity Wespac Stadium in the summer of 2014 – is expected to be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

The former England Under-21 international, handed his debut by Sir Bobby Robson as a teenager, made 268 appearances for Newcastle.

Taylor has also had spells at Portland Timbers and Ipswich Town since leaving Newcastle two years ago.

He proved his fitness at Peterborough last season, playing 44 League One games for the club.

Speaking to the Gazette in April, Taylor said: "One of the big things was getting a run of games and playing as much as possible."

Had Taylor stayed at Peterborough, he would have faced relegated Sunderland this coming season.

Taylor said he was spurred on by the abuse he got, as a boyhood Newcastle fan, when he played at the Stadium on Light.