ANDREW Taylor insists he is not at Reading to make up the numbers as he bids to get his career back on track after a nightmare spell at Wigan Athletic.

The 29-year-old penned a season-long loan deal at the Madejski Stadium last night and will provide stern competition to Jordan Obita.

It gives Steve Clarke much needed cover at left-back but Taylor has set his sights on forcing his way into the first-team.

“My ambition is to get into the team and stay there so we'll see how it goes,” he said. “Jordan [Obita] is a great player, I've played against him a few times now.

“He's the left-back at the club but if I can come here and add experience and competition then that'll be great.

“I'm a bit of a steady-eddie. I like to defend, I like to get forward and supply crosses. I feel I'm fairly experienced now so if I can bring some of that to the squad then that'll be good.”

Taylor starred in Cardiff City's 2012/2013 promotion campaign but fell out of favour in the Premier League – joining Wigan Athletic ahead of last season.

The Latics were tipped for promotion but the move turned into a nightmare for Taylor – losing his place in the side in February and never regaining it as Malky Mackay's side slipped to relegation.

Taylor admits it was a difficult time in his career and explained the opportunity to return to the Championship with Reading was a no brainer.

“It's a great opportunity for me, a fresh start,” he added. “It's a good squad, I've played against most of the boys.

“It wasn't a great season last year. Sometimes that happens in football from a personal point of view and also a team's point of view.

“We just didn't get going from the start really. As the season goes on, you get dragged into it and when you do that it can be hard to get out of it.

“The players didn't perform as a group or individuals. Sometimes things like that happens but we move on and it's a fresh start.

“It was good for me to get the season-long loan. Now I can have my full attention on the season rather than just a month or three months. I now think of myself as a Reading player so it's going to be a good season, I think.

“As soon as I was aware there was interest and an offer to come here, there was no doubt in my mind that's what I wanted to do.”