Gillingham striker Rory Donnelly admits that he is desperate to catch the eye of Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill ahead of the European Championships this summer.

The 23-year-old has been in fine form in England’s third tier so far this season, scoring ten goals as the Gills have mounted a surprise challenge for promotion to the Championship.

The former Swansea youngster has scored four goals in his last four games, with his recent form catching the eye of national team boss O’Neill, who has been keeping a close watch on the striker’s progress this season.

Donnelly said: “My agent said that O’Neill had phoned and said, ‘I don’t want you thinking we aren’t watching Rory because we are’.”

The forward is yet to make his international bow for the Green and White Army, although he has represented them at under-21 level and admits his ultimate goal is to earn selection for Euro 2016 this summer.

He continued: “If he is keeping his eye out then I need to be on top form just so I can get a look-in and see if I can go to the Euros.”

The tournament in France is the first that Northern Ireland have qualified for since the 1986 World Cup, and they have been handed a tough group draw as they will face world champions Germany, Ukraine and Poland in Group C of the competition.

O’Neill’s team are outsiders at 17.00 to finish top of the group, while they are on offer at 3.00 to qualify for the knockout stages.