Conor Shaughnessy: Portsmouth defender says Pompey players desperate to win 'massive' promotion

This is Portsmouth's 12th season outside the top two tiers of English football - they last played in the Championship in 2012, two years after their relegation from the Premier League

Conor Shaughnessy says Portsmouth's players are just as desperate to win promotion as their long-suffering fans.

With a dozen matches to go, Pompey are top of League One but closest rivals Derby and Bolton have games in hand.

"We say we take it a game at a time but you are always looking at the table and the games in hand," former Burton defender Shaughnessy, 27, told BBC Radio Solent.

"We'll just focus on the next game - it's how we've got to where we are."

Pompey have won six of their last seven league fixtures and former Republic of Ireland Under-21 centre-back Shaughnessy has started 33 of their 34 games this season, only missing the opening-day draw with Bristol Rovers.

"I'm grateful for the trust the manager has put in me to have this run of games," he said.

"Promotion would be massive. You can see how much it means to me and the players on the pitch every week. We want it every bit as much as the fans.

"It would be my first promotion, it would be an amazing feeling and it's something we're aiming to do but, one game at a time."

The former Leeds United defender almost saw his run in the side interrupted by the late arrival of baby daughter Etta.

Having been due five days before Pompey's long away trip to Carlisle, Shaughnessy's second child arrived less than 48 hours after the Blues' 1-0 win in Cumbria.

"It was a more stressful couple of days than I'd planned," Shaughnessy said. "But we got up there, got the three points and I managed to get home just in time for her arrival.

"When we checked the fixture list after we got the due date we couldn't believe Carlisle away was five days after the due date and prayed she came early.

"It worked out well in the end. I spoke to the manager about the trip and everyone knew the situation. I ended up bringing my car up there just in case - there were things in place if I needed to leave early and I checked my phone as soon as I was off the pitch."

Shaughnessy's form has sparked talk of an international call-up and he admitted: "It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid (to play for my country) and something I'll never give up on while I am playing.

"When I signed I thought it's a club, if you're doing well, where you can get international recognition. I understand the competition is of a very high standard but I'll keep doing what I can here."