Jack Taylor: Ipswich Town midfielder hopes for more regular place in team
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FA Cup: AFC Wimbledon 1-3 Ipswich - watch highlights
Midfielder Jack Taylor is hoping for more opportunities to start games for Ipswich Town after scoring in their FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
The 25-year-old ex-Peterborough player has found the net five times this season - three of them in cup games.
But only five of his 21 appearances in the Championship side have been starts.
"Every player wants to play. I've just got to prove every time on the pitch that I deserve my spot every week," Taylor told BBC Radio Suffolk.
Competition for places in midfield has increased with the recent loan signing of Lewis Travis from Blackburn Rovers and Brighton's Jeremy Sarmiento, but Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy is suspended for their next two matches after collecting his 10th yellow card in the league this season in the New Year's Day draw at Stoke.
"These things happen, suspensions, injuries, and that's why lads need to have minutes to step in when needed," said Taylor.
"All the successful teams in the world, Manchester City for example, when people are dropping out of form, someone else can jump in and do exactly the same job. It's a healthy environment to be in."
Ipswich will now face non-league Maidstone United - the lowest-ranked side left in the FA Cup - at Portman Road in round four later this month.
And Taylor believes a cup run is a good thing and should not distract from second-placed Town's push for promotion to the Premier League.
"There is magic in the FA Cup and you need to come out and be strong, resilient and take it as seriously as a league game," he continued.
"You don't want to have three weeks (gap) all the time. You need to stack up the games and make sure everyone is ready for the run-in."
Taylor's 90th-minute goal against the Dons allowed him to atone for a handball which enabled their League Two opponents to draw level at 1-1.
"I gave the penalty away, which I think was a bit harsh, but we reacted well and got the goal before half-time (to lead 2-1)," he added.
"When they went down to 10 men, I had more of a licence to get forward and arrive into the box and I'm glad it fell at my feet."