A famous Windsor Park night has given Linfield new boy Chris Shields the appetite to plot a fresh European odyssey this season.
Shields was a captivated onlooker as a wonder goal from Shayne Lavery helped seal a stunning 3-2 win over Qarabag in the Europa League two years ago.
David Healy’s men would go on to lose on aggregate, but the Dubliner, who joined Linfield from Dundalk this summer, was mesmerised by a pulsating night in Belfast.
“I live in Bangor so I was at Windsor Park that night and the atmosphere was incredible,” said Shields, who is set to make his Blues debut against Zalgiris Vilnius in Lithuania this evening.
“Qarabag had put us (Dundalk) out of the Champions League the previous month, so it was a fantastic result for Linfield to beat them in Belfast.
“I’ll never forget the look on the Qarabag players’ faces – they looked completely shell shocked when the Linfield goals went in so quickly.
“Shayne Lavery’s goal in the second half was just a brilliant piece of individual excellence and I’m sure it’s a night that will live long in the memory of the lads who played in it.
“Now that I’m a Linfield player, it would be great to experience another result and night like that in Europe with the club.”
Zalgiris are firm favourites to progress to the next round of the Champions League but Shields, who captained Dundalk against Arsenal in the group stages of the Europa League last season, is eager to extend Linfield’s Euro adventure as long as possible.
The winners advance to the next round of the Champions League, while the losers have the consolation of playing in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.
“Europe is actually my favourite time of year when it comes around,” said Shields (inset).
“In the Europa League with Dundalk last season, we took our chances and ended up in the group stages of the competition which was a terrific experience.
“It was brilliant playing against clubs of that quality and against world class footballers. You have to adjust your game, but it’s something I hold really close to my heart.
“I’m really looking forward to the new Irish League season kicking off next month, but the aim is also to have a really good run in Europe before then. It’s a big motivation.”
