Middlesbrough defender Andrew Taylor hopes Watford loan will earn him a contract (From Watford Observer)

Middlesbrough defender Andrew Taylor hopes Watford loan will earn him a contract

10:30am Saturday 4th September 2010 in

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New Watford signing Andrew Taylor hopes his loan move will help the full-back earn a new contract as his current deal expires next summer.

Taylor joined Watford hours before the transfer deadline closed on Tuesday and the left-back will remain at Vicarage Road until at least January 5.

The 24-year-old was a regular for Middlesbrough during their time in the Premier League and has appeared 125 times for Boro since making his debut in January 2006.

But injuries and the arrival of a number of new signings have limited his game time in the last year and Taylor felt he needed to move.

He said: "I am just going to use the time to get myself back playing and hopefully playing regularly as well because I have had a couple of injuries over the last few years.

"My contract is up at the end of this year so this is a chance for me to prove what I can do.

"I think by me staying at Middlesbrough for the season, there is every chance I would not have played as many games as I would have liked and when you get to the end of your contract, that is not a great position to be in.

"I need to be playing games and showing people what I can do. Coming down here, hopefully I can play well, stay injury free and then see what the future holds. I am just happy to be here."

Taylor is another product of the hugely successful Middlesbrough Academy and was part of Boro's 2004 FA Youth Cup-winning side, alongside new Watford signing Josh Walker.

The former England Under-21 international made his professional debut in 2005 on loan at Bradford City, where he made 26 appearances, and went straight into the Middlesbrough side on his return.

But Taylor has made just one substitute appearance this season and admits he became "stale" at Middlesbrough.

Taylor said: "I had been injured for the first three games this season, I was picked for the Sheffield United game, when I came on as substitute, and for the next two there was an issue with why I wasn't involved but the move had been coming for a while and it was good for both parties.

"I think it got a bit stale, me being there for a while, and it is good to get out and have a fresh start."

Taylor heard Watford were interested a couple of weeks ago "through the grapevine" but it was not until Tuesday morning when he was informed an offer had been made.

Taylor, who describes himself as an attacking left-back who is comfortable in possession, will reunite with Walker and Danny Graham at Vicarage Road and confirmed his former Boro team-mates helped persuade him to move south.

Taylor said: "It is always nice to know people at a new club that help you settle in and help you get to know the rest of the boys and that was a big factor.

"I spoke to them both when I was considering it and working out what was what. Both of them said 'it is really good and you will love it', so it was a definite yes."

Taylor, who will wear number three, will be ineligible to face his parent club when the two sides meet on September 25.

"Andrew is someone we’ve been tracking for a while," Watford boss Malky Mackay said.

"He is naturally left-footed so will give us something different as he joins our group of defensive options.

"We're delighted to have him here for six months. It's a period of time where he can really get settled in and enjoy playing regular first-team football once again."