Euro place is Carl’s aim

Darren Kelly was all smiles at the club’s photocall yesterday.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

DISAPPOINTED but determined to prove his worth, Carl Winchester has his sights set on providing some ‘va va voom’ in Athletic’s engine room this season — before hopefully landing a spot at Euro 2016 in France.

Winchester (22) was one of the stand-out players last term, picking up two end-of-season fan awards and contributing some spectacular goals to the cause from midfield in what was for him a breakthrough campaign.

However, under new bosss Darren Kelly, a lack of form early on, major competition for places in midfield and a groin injury have kept him out of the picture lately.

To date this season, Winchester has only played for a total of 155 minutes.

And he says he is utterly determined to change his fortunes, with the long-term goal of landing a place in Northern Ireland’s squad for next summer’s

showpiece event.

“I am disappointed that I am not involved as much as I would have liked,” said Winchester, who is pushing for a start against Peterborough on Saturday. “Especially after the season I had last time.

“I played in the first two games but after that have been out of the side, due to the side being unbeaten.

“Hopefully I can get back in soon and show people what I can do again.

“I knew I didn’t play well in those first two games and I knew there was a chance that I would be out of the team.”

Northern Ireland have arguably been the biggest surprise package in the round of qualifiers for Euro 2016.

Michael O’Neill has guided his men to a superb position where, after this week’s 1-1 home draw with Hungary, they need only two points from their final pair of matches next month to make it through.

For now the man who made his debut for Athletic at the age of 17 in the inauspicious surroundings of Accrington Stanley knows he needs to keep his feet on the ground if he is to get the chance to hop the channel come next June.

“That is what I am going to aim for,” said Winchester of his international hopes.

“I just want to get back here playing, hit my form again and then hopefully I will be in with a chance of a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad.

Simonas Stankevicius was due to return to training today after having a tough time on international duty with Lithuania’s under-21s.

The on-loan striker from Leicester played twice as his side followed up a 3-0 loss in Slovenia with a 5-0 defeat in Serbia.