Taylor, 30, penned a new four-year contract when van der Sar was signed and he agreed with coach Jean Tigana then that he would stick it out for at least a season.

Three months on Taylor knows his chances of first-team football are unlikely to improve and that it may be time to move on in the summer.

‘‘I signed a new four-year contract in the summer just after van der Sar signed,’’ he said.

‘‘The manager gave me his word that at the end of the season if nothing has changed we will sit down and talk again.

‘‘He made it clear to me that he needs a big squad at least for this season.

‘‘The fact that I’ve signed a new deal is good for the family and that, but the bottom line is I’m not playing and he accepts that.

‘‘He has asked me to give him a good year and then we will sit down and talk again at the end of the season.

‘‘That might mean looking for another challenge somewhere else, but we will see when the time comes.’’

Taylor is working as hard as ever in training with Fulham, but ultimately he knows it is going to be extremely difficult to depose a goalkeeper of van der Sar’s ability.

‘‘There’s no question he’s a world-class goalkeeper and we’re not talking about any old goalkeeper here,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve got to be realistic and I’m not going to play unless he gets injured really because he’s that good.

‘‘He might make the odd clanger but that’s not going to be sufficient for the manager to leave him out.

‘‘As a goalkeeper, if you play badly over a period of time then it might be time for a change, but he’s that good he’s not going to play poorly week in week out.

‘‘He might make a clanger, but generally he’s very, very consistent and it just isn’t going to happen.’’

Taylor was speaking after captaining Northern Ireland in their 2-1 friendly win over Macclesfield at Moss Rose and he claimed it was good to get a game.

He remains Irish manager Sammy McIlroy’s number one, but he admits it is frustrating not playing for Fulham.

‘‘It was good to get another run-out here and it helps keep me sharp,’’ he said.

‘‘It is frustrating not playing. You train every day of the week and then you don’t have the carrot at the end of the week because you know you’re not playing.

‘‘The lads have had a couple of great results - two wins on the bounce - and although I am part of it, it’s difficult to really feel part of it.’’