BLACKBURN Rovers skipper Grant Hanley hopes that the 2015/16 season will be a memorable one with both club and country – as he aims to reach his first major tournament with Scotland.

Hanley missed the final two months of last season with a calf injury, which also ruled him out of Scotland’s Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Gibraltar and their potentially crucial draw in the Republic of Ireland. That left Scotland third in Group D, which would currently earn them a play-off match and a shot at qualifying for their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.

Hanley, who hails from Dumfries and was a regular in the Scotland defence before his injury, admits he would be realising a dream if he was able to represent his country at the European Championships.

“We’ve got the Euros next summer and we’ve given ourselves a great chance,” he said.

“I’ve missed the last few games for Scotland because of the injury towards the back end of last season but my target is to get back into the Blackburn team, get back to playing every week and hopefully get myself back involved with the international scene.

“Obviously the aim from there is to qualify for the Euros, which would be a massive achievement for Scotland, and what an experience.

“The last time Scotland qualified for a major tournament was 1998 so it would be a great experience, not just the football but to be involved in the Euros. It would be special.”

Hanley was on the books of Queen of the South and later Rangers as a junior, before joining Rovers in 2008.

The defender has 17 senior caps for Scotland, while Rovers team-mates Jordan Rhodes and Craig Conway will also be hoping to be involved in Gordon Strachan’s squad.

It said much about the competition at centre back at Ewood Park though, that Hanley made a point of saying his Scotland aims depend on playing regularly for Rovers.

Even as captain of the club, he sees it very much as a battle between himself and the likes of Shane Duffy and Matt Kilgallon for the two spots in the centre of defence.

“Of course it is, every lad in the team will tell you it’s the same in every position,” he said.

“There’s not one player here who is guaranteed to play every week, such is the competition between the squad. It’s good and it’s healthy for the lads.”