Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United: Fourth round is Taylor's dream

The Sheffield United defender, who is fighting for his first-team future amid talk of a loan move for Kyle Naughton and the imminent return of Scottish international Gary Naysmith, has never been lucky in the Cup.

His longest campaign was ended by Hereford United in a third-round replay two seasons ago when he was playing for his former club Tranmere Rovers.

With the prize of a fourth-round trip to Premier League Bolton Wanderers, Taylor aims to bury his hoodoo tonight as the Blades visit Queens Park Rangers in a third-round replay.

"I would love to have a good run in this season's

FA Cup," he said, "and it would be great to be able to go to a Premier League stadium in the next round but we all know that, first, we have to do the job at Loftus Road."

Taylor, 23, still has fond memories of a loan spell with the Londoners four years ago that provided his first taste of first-team football.

"I loved it and wished I could have stayed a bit longer but the club's financial situation meant that all the loan players had to be sent back," he recalled. "I was playing reserve team football at Blackburn Rovers but Ian Holloway signed me and I played two or three games."

After further loan spells with Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra and Huddersfield Town, Taylor joined Tranmere and spent nearly two years at Prenton Park before arriving at Bramall Lane last summer in a deal worth around 350,000.

"Hopefully, I can do enough now to cement a regular place in the side," he said. "It felt like I was thrown in at the deep end but I think I have learned a lot this season from players like Matthew Kilgallon and Chris Morgan and I am also more confident by playing in a very competitive league against some very good players."

Last six games: QPR LDDWLD, Blades DWDLWD.

Last time: QPR 1 Blades 1; December 19, 2009; Championship.

Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).