STELIOS wants his Reebok team-mates to set their sights on Europe as they attempt to end the season on a Premiership high.

Starved of European action this season, the genial Greek knows the Champions League is an overly-ambitious target but insists it is not too late for Wanderers to at least claim a UEFA Cup spot.

Even that is asking a lot with the Whites currently lying 12th with just four games to play, but they are only six points behind Newcastle and Liverpool, who are vying for the fourth Champions League slot and just five behind Aston Villa, who head a group of seven clubs, including Wanderers, who could still finish sixth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

"If Birmingham are going for Europe, why shouldn't we?" Stelios said, anticipating that his optimism would raise a few eyebrows.

But he studied the league table closely after the weekend victory over Spurs that took Wanderers to 44 points and is convinced they should still be aiming high.

"I want to play in Europe again," he said, conceding that he has missed pitting his wits against the cream of the continent this season. "Why not in the Champions League next season?

"I am not happy with just staying up. I've played in the Champions League for six years in a row. Now I am not in Europe, I am not very comfortable.

"You can look at teams like Birmingham going for Europe and there is not a big difference between the rest of the clubs down from the top three. We are very much the same level.

"We have to aim for at least a place in the UEFA Cup."

Stelios, who won seven Hellenic Championships with the Athens giants Olympiakos before Sam Allardyce beat a host of admirers for his signature last summer, added: "Playing in Europe is a real celebration of football. For every player, that is our oxygen."

Already with the European Championships to look forward to, Stelios is still not satisfied. He is accustomed to success and is hungry for more.

Missing out on Europe, and, although insisting he has more to offer, he has adapted to the tempo and the physical demands better than Allardyce could have hoped, when he signed him on a Bosman free transfer last June.

He believes Wanderers have a good thing going and, with two years still to run on his contract, is hoping it stays that way.

"There is a family spirit here at Bolton," he said. "Everyone helps the newer players and I would like to see most of the players stay here for next season.

"Mr Allardyce could also bring in others to take us further because I have ambitions.

"I didn't have any worries about us staying up in the Premiership because we are a strong team.

"For the first time in a long time this club has had a good season in the Premiership."