A VALE of Clwyd footballer is just three wins away from playing in the Premier League.
Just 12 months ago, Ruthin’s Neil Taylor was plying his trade in non-league football with Wrexham, but the coming few weeks could be memorable ones as Taylor targets promotion to arguably the top football league in Europe.
The 22-year-old Welsh international is a key member of the Swansea City side that has reached this season’s Championship play-offs, after finishing the league season in third spot behind promoted Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.
Taylor has played 27 times for the Liberty Stadium side this season, gaining a starting position in the last three games.
Tonight (Thursday) sees the first leg of Swansea’s play-off semi-final versus Nottingham Forest, to be played at the City Ground (7.45pm), while the return will be at the Liberty Stadium on Monday (7.45pm).
Reading and Cardiff City are battling it out in the other semi-final and the Championship play-off final is at Wembley on Monday, May 30.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers reckons his side are underdogs going into the play-offs, despite finishing the Championship campaign in third place.
“Our objective over the season was to finish in the top-two,” said Rodgers.
“We have slipped up away from home on a few occasions this season to rule that out, but it’s still a great feeling to finish third.
“But let’s make no mistake about it, we’ll be going into the play-offs as underdogs.”