Super-sub Marlon Harewood insists the memory of European failure with West Ham has spurred him to qualify for the UEFA Cup with Villa.

Harewood scored his fourth goal coming off the bench to help Martin O’Neill’s sixth-placed to a 2-1 win at Reading yesterday.

The 28-year-old striker has one previous experience of getting into Europe when he was part of the Hammers’ ill-fated sojourn in the UEFA Cup in 2006-07 after they qualified from reaching the FA Cup final before losing to Liverpool.

“I’ve had the one experience of Europe with West Ham and it ended very quickly (against Palermo 2006),” he said.

“So I’d like to put that right next season. Premier League clubs are doing well in Europe this season and we want some of that. We’ve got the quality here to do that.

“It’s what football’s all about, trying to play the best teams in the world. If we finish in the top-six we get to play against some of the best teams in the world next season.

“That’s what the gaffer wants. He’s used to being in Europe from his time at Celtic and he wants this club in that bracket. That’s what we want to do as players.

“If we can end the season having qualified for Europe that will be the first part of the job done here and I think we’ll all be very pleased with that.”

Harewood has still to start a League game for Villa but admits he’s happy to play whatever action he can.

“This was a massive win for us and I’m just pleased to play my part – whether that’s coming off the bench or starting games,” he said.