Taylor was sent out on loan after falling out-of-favour with the former Boro boss, spending the first half of the campaign at fellow Championship side Watford.
The 24-year-old came close to leaving the Riverside permanently after impressing Hornets boss Malky Mackay, who launched two separate bids to sign Taylor during the transfer window.
Both bids were knocked back by Boro, with Mowbray keen to persuade the player to sign an extended contract.
That made for an uncertain few weeks for the Boro Academy product who admits he did not know where he would be come February 1.
But the transfer window passed and Taylor remained on Teesside with the Boro boss revealing last week he was confident the left-back would sign a new deal with the club soon.
Obviously I had a bit of a hard time under the last manager, it didn't really work out with me and him but now things are different, said Taylor, speaking during an event at Middlesbrough's club shop in Captain Cook Square organised by league title sponsors npower.
The atmosphere and feel around the training ground is much better and I'm just focusing on playing as many games and getting the club up the table.
Things have improved massively. When I first came back from Watford my head was all over the place.
I genuinely thought I was leaving and thought I was going to sign for Watford because I'd loved it that much and my experiences at Middlesbrough when Strachan was in charge were that bad I didn't want to come back.
But I have come back and everything's a lot better, the atmosphere, the training, I like the management now and the coach and it's really good.
It was quite unsettling because I didn't know whether I was coming back to Middlesbrough, staying at Watford or going to another team, but the transfer window is shut now so at least I can focus on getting my head down and playing as many games as I can.'' He added: January was a bit of a hard time for me personally because I didn't know what was happening, whether the club was selling me, but now that's in the past I can focus more on the football and ultimately get a few wins for the team.
When Taylor returned to the Riverside, Mowbray made it clear he wanted the fullback to convert into a left-midfielder, something the player admits he had reservations about.
But in the four games he has played since returning, Boro have only lost once and the 24-year-old has impressed in his new position.
I'm enjoying it, it's different, obviously I'm used to playing left back, Taylor said.
I used to play in midfield when I was in the youth teams. When I first came back and the manager told me his thoughts, my initial reaction was that I'm a defender.
I've played left-back my full career, I've just played 20 games for Watford at leftback, did really well and enjoyed it but over the last few weeks I'm starting to see what the manager wants from me and I'm enjoying it.
He likes footballers in the team and he believes that I can be a big part of the midfield.
It's nice to know and have a manager that believes in you.
* Middlesbrough Academy player Adam Jackson is in the England Under-17 squad for the Algarve Tournament against Romania, Germany and Portugal in late February.
The Darlington-born centre- back defender has played a big part in Boro's run to the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo