DEAN SHIELS has set himself the twin target of helping Rangers back to the Premiership and heading to Euro 2016 in France with Northern Ireland.

The attacking midfielder feels he can play a key role in Mark Warburton’s bid to win the Ladbrokes Championship after three tough years at Ibrox.

And he is desperate to get back into Michael O’Neill’s squad as the Northern Irish close in on historic qualification for a major tournament.

You have to go back to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico – before most of the current squad were born – to find the last time they made it.

However, they are tantalisingly close now and they could clinch their spot in France next month.

If they beat the Faroe Islands away and Hungary lose to Romania on September 4, they will ensure qualification by beating the Hungarians at Windsor Park, Belfast, three days later.

Shiels is desperate to be there, and he hopes that by starring in the Rangers revival, he can earn a recall.

He has been involved in all three victories for Rangers so far, and now hopes to earn a starting slot at Alloa on Sunday after scoring in last Friday’s 3-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox.

He said: “Going up with Rangers and going to the Euros with Northern Ireland sounds good to me. Obviously I want to get back in the squad. It’s something I do think about at night.

“I played a lot under Michael O’Neill when he got the job, but due to not playing at Rangers I lost my place in the squad. Hopefully that can come again this season.

“It is something I’m thinking about but that comes, first and foremost, from doing well at the club. You’ve got to do well in club football to have a chance, so hopefully if I can keep doing well I’ve got a chance.

“This is a key moment in the country’s history with it being so long since we were last in a major tournament. These next games in September are going to be key in the whole group.”

Shiels has not yet featured in Northern Ireland’s qualifying campaign as O’Neill has guided them into second place behind Romania with four matches left to play.

The 14-times capped midfielder was last in a squad when he was an unused substitute against Chile in June 2014.

He said: “Obviously I still look at the games as a fan when they’re playing. I’ve got a lot of close friends in the squad and it’s great to see them doing so well.

“Michael O’Neill has been in touch regularly, but not recently because the season ended and then we had the play-offs.

“But he is one who communicates a lot with his squad, and hopefully if I can keep doing well for Rangers then that will come.”