Irish Premiership: Linfield captain Chris Shields ‘pushing for return to Europe’

Linfield captain Chris Shields says “with a bit of luck” he could return to the Blues’ squad for the upcoming UEFA Conference League qualifiers after missing most of last season through injury.

Shields has been sidelined since September with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that required surgery.

The Blues finished a disappointing fourth in the Irish Premiership, but secured European football this summer by beating Dungannon Swifts in the European play-off final at Windsor Park.

“I’ll be back in pre-season and I’ll be running with the boys,” Shields told BBC Radio Foyle.

“With a bit of luck, I’ll be in the European squad. The recovery has been really good. Now on a bit of a break, so I’ll be back to meet the physios and get back and running.

“Being a patient is not suitable for me, so I will push to go back to Europe. Whether I am actually medically cleared is the issue for my wife and the physios.”

David Healy’s side, who won the Premiership two years ago with six games to spare, were unable to defend their title and finished 17 points clear of champions Lerne.

However, they added the Betmaclin Cup to their trophy cabinet after defeating rivals Glentoran in the final.

“It’s a disappointing campaign if you don’t win the league or the Irish Cup, but perhaps from a personal point of view it was disappointing to miss the year,” he continued.

“The boys dug in, and I always say when you’re not winning the league you have to at least be in the trophies and the boys did that.

“Obviously finishing fourth is not a done deal by anybody’s measure, but crossing the line and winning the European play-offs at least allows us to wait for European football until July, given the importance of European money in football.”