NEIL TAYLOR is delighted Dean Saunders sees him as part of his future plans - but the Wales under 21 international is more focussed on picking up a victory when Wrexham face Altrincham at The Racecourse on Boxing Day (3pm).
The majority of the Wrexham squad are out of contract in the summer but left-sided Taylor, along with goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, midfielder Andy Fleming and veteran centre-back Frank Sinclair, will be offered new deals by Saunders.
Taylor, who has progressed through the club’s youth system, is thrilled with the news but the 20-year-old just wants to help 15th placed Wrexham pick up a much-needed three points on Saturday.
“I am happy to be offered a new contract, I am really glad,” said Taylor. “I have not seen the contract yet so I can’t comment on it but I just know there is one there.
“But hopefully the gaffer has been making offers to people who he wants to keep working with and make better.
“I have been at Wrexham six years now and the club means a lot to me. It is where I started my career and learnt my trade. It is the club that gave me my chance and I will be forever grateful for that.
“But we have got Altrincham on Saturday, we are looking for three points, and we need to beat them.”
Championship outfit Swansea City have been rumoured to be interested in making a move for Taylor when the transfer window reopens in January, and though flattered by the news Taylor is not getting distracted by the speculation.
“That was a nice thing to hear,” he said. “I think the gaffer put it well when he said a lot of people are being watched. We’ve got a lot of young players who could go on to play at a higher level.
“But I am just concentrating on my own football, I will let other people concentrate on that side of the game.”
Wrexham go into the clash with Altrincham, who knocked the Reds out of the FA Trophy following a first round replay last week, with just one league win in six outings.
And Taylor is targeting nothing less than three points on Saturday: “At home to Altrincham, we have got to be looking to win,” he said.
“I felt we should have beaten them in the two Trophy games. We created chances but couldn’t put the ball in the net, and then conceded a scrappy goal.
“If we score first I think we will go on and win, and that is what we have got to be looking to do.”
The versatile Taylor, used in both the left-back and left-midfield roles this season, was ruled out of the first Trophy clash with Altrincham because of injury but he returned in a defensive capacity for the replay defeat at Moss Lane.
And Taylor hopes to keep his place on Saturday and enjoy an extended run in the team: “Every player wants a run in the side,” he added.
“You just want to be playing league games and not just training and playing for the reserves.
“It is a busy time of the year for a footballer.
“People come up and ask if we are off over Christmas and New Year, and I say this is our busiest time.
“We have to put parties to the side and get ready for games. It is one of those things you have got to do.”