Martin Taylor believes the next few weeks will shape the rest of Watford's season and says the players have still not given up hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Watford are currently 15th in the Championship, five points off the relegation places and ten off the play-off spots.

The Hornets' poor away record is well-known but with three home games following tomorrow's match at Derby County and at least two games in hand on the eight teams above them, Taylor is still targeting the top six.

"We still want to be looking up the table and have a chance to progress up there," Taylor explained.

"We have a couple of games in hand on the teams around us so we have a good chance over the next couple of weeks to really push on and get some points on the board to one, become safe and two, to push on up the table and get as close to the play-off positions as possible.

"I think the direction of our season is going to be decided over the next three or four games, so everyone knows how important those games are."

Last week marked two years since Taylor’s tackle which resulted in Arsenal's Eduardo breaking his leg and the former Birmingham City defender was keen not to discuss the similar injury Aaron Ramsey suffered at the weekend.

Taylor was a regular part of the Birmingham squad last season as they returned to the Premier League but did not feature for City following his return from injury.

This enabled Watford to snap up the 30-year-old on a free transfer, despite having six months left on his contract at St Andrew’s.

Taylor has made five appearances for the Hornets since the move but insists the best is yet to come.

He said: "It was a little bit like a pre-season, after not training too much before I came in and having not played at all. So I have almost got that match sharpness back but still have a little bit to go.

"I have enjoyed getting back playing and the adrenaline gets you through and back into first-team action.

"I feel like I am almost there now, I am getting there."

Taylor said the support of his team-mates and the Watford fans have helped him settle in quickly.

The centre back still lives in the Midlands with his wife and children and is grateful to the club for not trying to force him to move his family, although 'Tiny' said he would reconsider if the travelling started to have a detrimental impact on the different parties involved.

Taylor said: "My children are at school up there so I wouldn't be moving them at this time of year any way, but if it became a problem I would reconsider it.

"It is not too far and I make sure I get enough rest around the games and stay down sometimes, so it has not been a problem."