Personally I think Steve Howey was better, but he too suffered because of injury and we never saw the best of him.
Only once did he play a full season for Newcastle (the year we were promoted), the rest he was restricted to less than half the games. But he picked up five England caps and it would have been ten times that had he been a Newcastle regular.
He joined Newcastle in 1986 and left in 2000, playing 237 games for the Magpies, scoring 7 goals.
Now the Sunderland-born Howey is backing Steven Taylor to follow in his footsteps into the England team - and win more than five caps!
Howey: "I could not be more pleased for Steven Taylor.
"With him playing in my old position, and being a local lad like myself, I have watched his progress, and I have to say he thoroughly deserves his England call-up.
"What will help him is the fact he has Sam Allardyce as his manager at St James' Park.
"I only worked under Sam for a short while at Bolton right near the end of my career.
"He did wonders for me, and I expect young Taylor to feel the benefit from Allardyce's coaching.
"I only hope young Taylor is luckier than I was with injuries.
"Terry Venables told me I was going to be his central defender but then I got injured and first Gareth Southgate and then Sol Campbell came in - the rest is history.
"I am sure Steven will have a long and successful career for both club and country as long as he avoids injuries.
"I would urge him to enjoy every moment."