The former Crystal Palace and Hull City manager left the club's one-time FA Cup opponents Stevenage Borough earlier this month after they just failed to qualify for a Blue Square Premier play-off place.

And the 55-year-old yesterday met executive director Dennis Wise at a Waltham Abbey hotel to discuss a post at St James's Park.

Much-travelled Taylor worked with Newcastle duo Steven Taylor and James Milner during his time in charge of England's Under-21s, and is well respected on the training field.

The proposed role is unclear, with manager Kevin Keegan already having Chris Hughton and Steve Round on his team.

However, Round's contract expires at the end of next month, and he is yet to be offered a new deal at the club.

Taylor, ironically, replaced former United midfielder Mark Stimson at Broadhall Way halfway through the season after he quit to take charge at Gillingham, another of Taylor's former clubs.

Meanwhile, Keegan will have 13 players on international duty this summer - dashing hopes he had that the bulk of his squad would have an extended break over the next two months.

Michael Owen heads up the Newcastle contingent, having been picked for England's two summer friendlies against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

His fellow striker Andy Carroll will represent England Under-19s in a tournament in Belarus earlier this month.

Damien Duff will play for the Republic of Ireland against Serbia in Dublin on May 24, while Turkey's Emre and Czech Republic's David Rozehnal are involved in the summer's European Championships.

African quartet Obafemi Martins, Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye and Geremi are all involved in World Cup qualifiers, while Charles N'Zogbia is in action with France's Under-21s.

Rising stars Tamas Kadar (Hungary), Fabio Zamblera (Italy), Ole Soderberg (Sweden) are also playing for their countries at various age levels.