Oxford United striker Matty Taylor has said he would love to represent his hometown club in the Championship.
The U’s take on Portsmouth in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Fratton Park on Friday and the on-loan Bristol City forward is hoping to fire the club to the next level.
The 30-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, is expected to be released by the Robins in the summer when his contract expires but would hope to stay with the U’s in the second tier.
Speaking to the PA News Agency, Taylor said: “I’m just focusing solely on getting Oxford up and finishing the job that we started.
“I’ve loved playing for Oxford this year. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and living back in Oxford as well.
“They’ll obviously be in my thoughts when I make my next decision, but I won’t be deciding anything until after the play-offs.
“It would be an amazing success for us all to get promotion and it would be lovely to play for Oxford in the Championship as well, but if not then I’ll sit down with my agent afterwards and go from there really.”
The striker, who announced earlier in the season that he would wait until the campaign was over before making a decision about his future, came through the ranks with the U’s but was released in 2009 with the club in the Conference League.
Despite making his name at Bristol Rovers, before joining rivals City, he has always held an ambition to return to Oxford.
“I wouldn’t have envisaged it, but they’ve been in League One for a few years now and they’ve just got better and better over the years,” he added.
“It’s a massive game in the history of the club. The fans are all excited and I’ve got family members and mates that all support Oxford and they’re buzzing for it.
Taylor, who has won a League One Player of the Month award this season, has been a key part of the U’s success on the field, and the supporters will be hoping to see him in a yellow shirt next season.
