The 24-year-old's current deal runs out next summer and a shin injury has prevented him getting on to the pitch this season to show he's worth another one.

He was injured during the pre-season trip to Austria, only returning to the squad last month, with Steve Bruce naming him on the bench for three of the last four games.

There was speculation over the summer that Taylor would be leaving the JJB Stadium – Birmingham were strongly linked with the utility man.

But no move materialised, leaving him to concentrate on getting fit with Latics and forcing his way back into the Latics manager's plans.

Taylor told the Evening Post: "I'm out of contract in the
summer so I need to start playing again.

"I've just turned 24 and in the transfer market that's a good age.

"I would like to stay if there is a contract offered.

"I've been here just over three years and it's been tough at times because of the injuries, a bit of a rollercoaster.

"If I want to earn myself a contract here or elsewhere I have to be playing.

"People in the game need to see you play – they can't rely on having seen you two years ago and what you did then.

"In football you never know what's round the corner.

"In the summer I was reading in the papers that I was supposed to be leaving Wigan – one report said I had actually left.

"I don't know how true some of the speculation was, obviously some of it wasn't because I'm still here."

Taylor has been desperately unlucky with injury since joining Latics for £1.2m from Tranmere in July 2005.

He fractured his metatarsal during his first season at the club, and then broke his leg in two places during a comeback game in the reserves.
Injury last season meant it wasn't until Bruce's arrival that Taylor got a first-team run.

But he did then play a significant part in the successful fight against
relegation.
This term, his only action has been 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly in Austria and a behind-closed-doors game against Crewe at the training ground.

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