Steven Taylor has admitted that he is desperate to recover from injury to play against Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby this weekend.
Newcastle United defender Taylor has been struggling with a calf strain sustained against Reading last month.
Taylor has been a regular feature of the Magpies defence so far this season, while Alan Pardew has had to contend with persistent injury problems to centre-back partner Fabricio Coloccini.
Both players are fighting to be fit for this weekend's clash with the Mackems in a game that means everything to Toon fans, according to Taylor.
He told the club's official website: "The main thing for me is being 100% fit for the Sunderland game.
"Playing in the derby is what it's all about if you're a Newcastle player, and the build-up will grow and grow over this week as the game draws near. There's always a massive build-up, and that's the way it should be.
"I think I feel it more than most because I'm a Geordie and a lifelong Newcastle fan, so I'll be reminding the lads just how much it means to the people around here."
Newcastle sit in tenth place in the Premier League - three points above their local rivals - ahead of their trip to the Stadium of Light.
Liam Power
