SUNDERLAND full-back Michael Gray has two burning ambitions - to be the first locally born skipper to lead the club into Europe and to win back his England place.

The Wearsiders' longest serving player is now in his testimonial season - he completes ten years at the club next July - and he hopes to mark it with a double celebration.

Entry into Europe, however, is uppermost in Gray's mind, and his own personal ambition of rekindling his England career must take second place to the all-important task of earning Sunderland a place in Continental competition through their League position for the first time ever.

The last time Sunderland went on a European sojourn was in 1973, when Scots-born Bobby Kerr led his side to FA Cup glory over Leeds United, earning a place in the Cup Winners' Cup.

The euphoria did not last long, however, with Sunderland going out to Sporting Lisbon at the second hurdle after beating Vasas Budapest.

The achievement, remarkable as it was at the time, did not carry the same importance European entry does now - it was a novelty to the delighted Roker fans and there was not a great following to either Hungary or Portugal.

Now Sunderland fans, having seen their team storm back to the Premiership after their first initial relegation and establish themselves in the top flight in front of packed house as the Stadium of Light, are desperate for another taste of Europe.

Gray, born in Castletown 27 years ago, appreciates the hunger possibly more than anyone else in the Sunderland camp, as he constantly rubs shoulders with his fellow townsfolk.

He said: "I know just how desperately the fans want to see us qualify for Europe and that has got to be our priority.

"We've finished seventh in each of the two previous seasons and I realise that they now expect us to go one better this time.

"I've been watching and playing now for 15 years and I think this is the best squad Sunderland have had over this period - it is great to be part of it."

Gray knows, however, that Sunderland cannot afford to sit on their laurels after coming so close to forcing their way into Europe over the last two seasons.

He said: "The last two seasons have been fantastic, but now we all know it is time to take one step further.

"This time around there can be absolutely nothing else on anyone's mind but to win entry into Europe.

"I do think the fans expect us to take that one step further this season.

"We have the fan-base and the stadium and now I think we have the squad capable of playing in Europe.

"We have all seen what Ipswich did last season, and I think they will perform very well in Europe because they are a good footballing side.

"That's got to be our target - if they can win their way into Europe then certainly we should be able to do the same."

Gray is hoping that he can produce the form during an impressive Sunderland season which will put him under the scrutiny of new England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

But he stresses that the team's success in the Premiership comes before his own personal ambition.

He said: "We'll just see how the season starts and try to help the side to make a good start in the league.

"Of course I have ambitions of playing for England again - but let's just see how the season starts. If you are not playing well for your club then playing for your country is the last thing on your mind.

"It would be lovely for it to go hand in hand and people talked about it last season but it never happened so it's not on my mind at the moment.I just want to do well for Sunderland and see how things go on from there."

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