Millar wants Blues to emulate Larne's European success

Millar helped Linfield to win the Irish Premiership title last season

Linfield winger Kirk Millar says he wants his side to replicate Larne and reach the league phase of a European competition this season.

The Irish Premiership champions have been drawn against Premier Division champions Shelbourne in the first round of Champions League qualifying.

If they overcome Shels, the Blues will face Qarabag but if they lose, they will drop into the Conference League second round qualifying and will play the defeated side between FK Zalgiris of Lithuania and Hamrun Spartans of Malta.

Millar has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell during his time with Linfield but is desperate to help them make history by reaching the league phase for the first time in Europe.

"It would be brilliant to do what Larne did last year, it is one of the things I want to do, I have won it all so it's a big thing and I'd love us to do it this year," he told BBC Sport NI.

Ahead of the first leg at Tolka Park on Wednesday, 9 July, Linfield will face Dungannon Swifts in the Charity Shield on Friday, 4 July at Windsor Park.

Millar believes the competitive fixture will aid preparations for their European campaign and the upcoming league season as Linfield face the Swifts in the first game of the campaign.

"I'm looking forward to getting a competitive game in before we have a big European game," he added.

"It's my first Charity Shield, I was injured for the last one and we have each other [Linfield and Dungannon] first game of the season so it's good to weigh each other up and see where we are at."