Motherwell: Reading midfielder Jake Taylor relishes loan chance

Jake Taylor spoke to Reading team-mate Nick Blackman about Motherwell

Reading midfielder Jake Taylor hopes a successful loan spell at Motherwell can help him fulfil his dream of a place at the Euro 2016 finals with Wales.

The 23-year-old is also keen to reignite his career at Reading by proving himself in the Scottish Premiership this season.

"Of course it would be fantastic to be involved," Taylor said of Euro 2016.

"And the only way I'll do that is if I'm playing week-in, week-out, doing what I can do."

Taylor made his debut as a late substitute for Wales in a home win over Cyprus last season having been a first-team regular for the English Championship side in the early part of the campaign.

"I think it's vitally important, if I'm going to be involved in the set-up, you have to be playing at the highest level possible and I think this is a good stepping stone for me to hopefully push on and get back in the squad," he said.

Taylor lost his place in the Reading team after Christmas and was eventually loaned out to Leyton Orient, having been sent previously to Crawley Town, Cheltenham Town, Exeter City and Aldershot Town during his short career.

"I think, wherever you go, you've got a point to prove," he acknowledged.

Motherwell's Stephen Pearson (right) will be missing for nearly two months through injury

"Obviously I wasn't going to be playing at Reading, so it was important for me, instead of staying there and playing in the odd under-21 game or being on the bench, that I go out and fight for my place.

"I just want to play as many games as possible. I got a taste of the Championship last year and I'm looking forward to one day going back and doing so again."

Taylor's arrival coincided with news that former Scotland midfielder Stephen Pearson will be sidelined through injury for around seven weeks.

Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough is hopeful that desire to get back into the international fold will serve Motherwell well too.

"He's full of energy, really good mobility box-to-box, he's got a decent goalscoring record for a midfielder, certainly when he's gone out on loan," said Baraclough.

"It gives us good competition in the midfield area, which is something I've tried to strengthen."

Baraclough says he will continue to scour the market to see if he can improve his squad further before the end of the transfer window.

"We're always on the look-out," he added when asked if he could make further additions.

"The size of the squad is round about where we want to be, but if there's someone there who takes our eye, there's a chance we could, but it would probably only be one."