CHRIS Taylor would ‘100 per cent’ like to sign a new deal with Blackburn Rovers.

But the midfielder admits it was not too long ago he feared he would be forced to call time on his Rovers career.

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Taylor is one of eight first-team players – along with Matt Kilgallon, Josh King, Lee Williamson, David Dunn, Yann Songo’o, Luke Varney and Paul Robinson – whose contract runs out in the summer.

The 28-year-old has always expressed how proud he is to play for the 1995 Premiership champions.

But at the start of the year he thought he was heading toward the Ewood Park exit door after being restricted to just eight appearances in the first half of the season, six of which came from the bench.

However since his match-winning double strike in the FA Cup victory over Charlton Athletic on January 3 Taylor has played a further 12 times, nine of which have come from the start, and added two further goals.

“It’s been going pretty good,” said Taylor, who arrived at Rovers on a free transfer from Millwall in May 2013.

“I’ve chipped in with a few goals and one or two assists too so I’ve been pretty pleased.

“I’d still like to play more football but overall I can’t complain.

“I had no goals at the start of the year but I’ve played a lot more since then and scored four goals so it’s not a bad return.

“It was a must that I started playing more games. There was a spell when the lads were doing well so it was hard to break into the team.

“But when the results weren’t going in their favour and I still couldn’t get a look in, that’s when it hurt me a bit.

“It had to change at the turn of the year and if it didn’t change I could’ve found myself out of the door and at another club next year because I wouldn’t have felt I contributed a lot.

“But I’m 100 per cent looking to stay as I really do enjoy it here. Every player just wants to play football and I’m no different.

“I’ve been here two years now, it’s flown by, and hopefully I can extend it a bit longer.”

Only Jordan Rhodes, with seven, has scored more times for Rovers in 2015 than Taylor.

But his goal in the damaging home defeat to Brentford before the international break was his first in the league for the club.

And Taylor, who was also on target in the FA Cup win over Swansea City, said: “The gaffer has been on at me a few times about it so I was delighted to score but in the end it didn’t count for anything.”

During the 3-2 loss to Brentford Taylor played on the left of midfield as well as in the centre having previously operated on the right.

And he said: “You’ve got to adapt to different games. For instance the gaffer might want to go three in midfield and I can go there no problem.

“As long as I’m out there and hopefully playing well then I’m happy.”

Rovers, meanwhile, have confirmed they have sold in excess of 26,000 tickets for the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Liverpool at Ewood Park on Wednesday week.

Tickets, which cost £30 for adults, £22.50 for over 65s, £15 for 17-21-year-olds, and £5 for under 16s, will remain on sale to Rovers supporters with a database booking history until 2pm on the day of the all-ticket game – unless, as expected, they sell out before then.